Friends found.

Fact of my life: I've connected favorably with people all over the world. From the United States to Australia, from Amsterdam to Moscow, from Bucharest to Hong Kong. I've come to learn that the same issues that keep me awake, worry those in the Far East or the Western frontier. Between the cultures, between the languages, there is a space where it is evident that we are all alike. This seems so obvious, but some just to refuse to acknowledge that simple point.

For every friend I've made, I've also met a person bent on hating one group or another. May it be Muslims or Christians, may it be black, brown, yellow or white. I understand the temptation to blame away your own problems, your own misfortunes. The economy slows down? Blame the immigrants. You can't reach the echelon of power? Blame the Jews. It is a strategy which exchanges feeling inferior with a notion of self-righteousness. It also replaces cooperation with fear. It only will work in your favor until the time comes they start to hate you back, as the manufactured fear morphs into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I guess, being distrustful or descending to bigotry in the worst of times is just a part of the human condition. However, today we have the infrastructure to communicate at will with a billion others; a tremendous opportunity to discover we have so much in common. But, on the other hand, this awesome means of distribution can be used to spread propaganda that could fuel our bigotry to unparalleled heights.

I imagine, the 21st century will be quite a ride.