"...IT MAKES US LOOK BAD."

John Du Nugent, a white separatist, is quoted as saying in regard to James W. Von Brunn's action, "The white separatist community condemns this. It makes us look bad." Oh, Mr. Du Nugent, you did not look bad before? I suppose indiscriminate killing at a Holocaust museum is worse than proposing to rid the world of all non-whites, but not too much worse.

It is amazing that there are so many people consumed with such deep hatred for their fellow man, simply because he is different. There are so many reasons, they say. The Jews are trying to rule the world. African-Americans are subhumans with lower IQ's. Latinos are ruining this country. It goes on and on.

The Internet has given these people a bully pulpit to preach their hatred and to recruit those who are on the brink of insanity or are suffering from some woe, financial or social and need someone to blame. A simple search turns up pages of sites dedicated to hatred. Today's financial troubles, combined with an African American president, have fueled the hatred and given rise to wild conspiracy theories. Obama is a tool of Islamic terrorists. He was not born in the U.S. Jews control the finances of the country and have created the economic conditions that we face in order to consolidate their power.

It sounds far-fetched, but think about the emails you receive. Listen to Newt Gingrich, saying that Sotomayor is a racist and that her ankle injury is a fake. Then there is the Fat Blowhard, Limbaugh, and his buddies, Beck, Hannity, and O'Reilly, constantly railing and name calling, and inventing conspiracies. These are the so-called "legitimate" talking heads, not the white supremacists...or are they? They may not be directly connected, but their constant focus on the issues dear to these radicals pushes many viewers over the edge. I have friends, who are basically addicted to FOX News and right wing talk radio. They are heavily influenced by the half truths and out of context videos and comments.

Then there are the bloggers. It is so simple to put a spin on a comment or a speech and there are many readers, who are not smart enough to know better or they do not want to hear anything different. This fellow, Von Brunn, was apparently ahead of his time in the use of the Internet to spread his venom. Like the talk radio and FOX News addicts, there are Internet addicts, who spend far too much time searching and browsing and are easily swayed.

Homeland Security warned of anti-Semitic attacks and right-wing extremism and the right wing Republicans actually forced an apology from that Department. There is definitely a rise in right-wing extremism. It has been building for the last decade or so and has found a fertile ground in the current domestic and world situations. FOX commentator Sheppard Smith recently commented on the more venomous anti-Obama emails that he is receiving, saying they are getting scarier. We have not seen the last of these attacks. There have been two in the last two weeks, and unfortunately, they will most likely continue to intensify, as the hate mongers continue to ramp up their diatribes.

At some point the O'Reilly's and Limbaugh's of the world are going to have to take responsibility for their actions and realize that they are causing death and destruction. I hope they soon understand that their venomous talk is terribly counterproductive and even in some cases anti-American. It might be in their best interest to tone it down and look elsewhere for their big broadcasting bucks. There is no need for censorship, just responsible journalism from those to whom a sector of the public looks to for its "news."