Vicious Pendulums

When you or one of the groups you belong to is vilified or persecuted, you have two choices: 1. vilify/persecute back, or 2. rise above. Thank you, Christ, Gandhi, and King...and anyone else who's advocated for this wiser response.

As I've wondered a few times here on the Slog (starting here): Will we human beings ever learn to react to extremism with enlightened moderation rather than with reciprocal extremism?

Here's a related thought about nationalism. Pfft, on second thought, what the hell, I'll just reprint it below:

Nationalism is always a noble-seeming mask for xenophobia.

Show me someone who loves "Us", and I'll show you someone who hates "Them".