Someone who is close to me, but lives in another state, frequently forwards jokes, virus warnings, bogus stories and other items she receives on the Internet. She thoughtfully remembers birthdays and holidays too, and I can count on receiving E-cards at all the appropriate times. Over the years, I've been able to gently address a few of her forwards that were sorely lacking in substance or actual fact, and I receive fewer of them these days than before. I think she appreciates knowing about hoax-busting web sites like Snopes.com and Hoaxbusters.org, and she's gotten better about checking her facts before clicking ‘Send’. Every now and then, however, her personal bogus alarm fails and she sends along some urgent message, like the link she just sent to a video that, according to the subject line, “Every American must see…”. The video, not surprisingly, is designed to create fear and, in this case, stir up ‘Islamaphobic’ sentiment. The video and web site imply that America is sleeping as Islamic radicals work inexorably toward world domination. Perhaps the only valid point of the exercise, however indirectly made, is the threat of tyranny represented by any theocracy. In the past, I’ve mostly ignored such posts from friends and family. For the balance of this election year, however, I’m resolved to recognize fear-based tactics and to challenge them when I safely can. The reality, of course, is that we must often tread lightly and speak softly, being mindful of other opinions as well as our own security. Nonetheless, in this most patriotic season, it seems appropriate to reflect on the parallels between the search for universal truth and the desire to uphold truth and honesty in our political system.

Happy 4th of July! ~ Dave