What is it that lives in the heart of Man that produces anger, hatred, and the idea of using violence and killing for any purpose whatsoever? I wonder this today as we hear from the Secret Service that threats against the life of our newly-elected president have skyrocketed.
An Associated Press report by writer Eileen Sullivan sent across the wire yesterday said that “One of the most popular white supremacist Web sites got more than 2,000 new members the day after the election, compared with 91 new members on Election Day, according to an AP count.”

The story went on to tell us that “the site, stormfront.org, was temporarily off-line Nov. 5 because of the overwhelming amount of activity it received after Election Day. On Saturday, one Stormfront poster, identified as Dalderian Germanicus, of North Las Vegas, said, ‘I want the SOB laid out in a box to see how ‘messiahs’ come to rest. God has abandoned us, this country is doomed’
I am sick at heart. What kind of person would say something like that? What kind of person would mean it?
And, the AP story said, an Associated Press reporter (Jerry Harkavy in Standish, Maine) saw a sign in a Maine convenience store inviting customers to join a betting pool on when Obama might fall victim to an assassin. “The sign solicited $1 entries into ‘The Osama Obama Shotgun Pool,’ saying the money would go to the person picking the date closest to when Obama was attacked. ‘Let’s hope we have a winner,’ said the sign, since taken down,” the Associated Press story said.
I am incredulous. What kind of store owner would have a sign like that up? What kind of human being would do that? I wish the AP would identify the store, and not just say “a Maine convenience store.” I want the people who work in or run that store to be held publicly responsible and publicly accountable for their hatred. I want everyone to write a gentle, loving letter to that store saying, “Please, please don’t throw this kind of energy around. Please,” and asking, “What hurts you so bad that you feel you have to hurt another person in order to heal it?”
What is it that is hurting all of us? What is it in our experience that allows us, that allows any human being, to spew such hatred?
God, please heal this world; please heal our planet.