Growing up a westerner I remember all the rhetoric that was shoved down our throats about being "tolerant". Tolerant of the fat guy with a beard walking down Market Street in SF wearing a dress. Tolerant of the teacher at my kid's school who put up a poster of Mao. Tolerant of the Persian guy in one of my offices who'd punch some of the guys and harass the young women because, "I guess that's part of his culture". All those years that little voice in your head might be saying, "Why tolerate? Why not just get along? Why not be able to openly state your opposition?" Maybe the bearded guy in the dress needs help. Maybe Mao killed too many people. Maybe the guy in my office needed to be set straight by whatever means necessary (guess who did that...). As I watch this news clip I remember that. Now that I'm older it's clear to me that one can tolerate themselves right into their grave. One of my buddies here in the area is retired Israeli special forces. He's...a little angry. The other night when he passed by on his evening walk he just said "the nukes are armed". I hate war and I don't like violence, but I know where I'd stand if a group came into my area and took and tormented the women and children. I think that these attackers did more than poke the bear in Israel. And now all around the world I'm seeing protests in support of the terrorists...wow...

I know I'm not the only one here who regularly imagines a world where people get along and respect each other. What a concept.