But, as I listened, I relaxed a little and began to realize that most of these potential presidential candidates are smart and probably sincere. Take, for example, Michele Bachmann.

I really like her. She is a strong, intelligent woman. She is passionate about serving her country, believes that her policies are best for this nation, and is as patriotic as I am.  Though I am diametrically opposed to her political stances, I admire her as (to use Mark Levin’s mantra) a “great American.”  My confessing admiration for Michele Bachmann is surely anathema to my Democrat friends. So be it. I would remind them that, as Christ admonished us to hate the sin and not the sinner, we must hate the position and not the person.

If we cannot all grow up and take to heart Rodney King’s plea, then this great nation is doomed to mediocrity and discord. We are all more alike than we are diffent: Republicans and Democrats…rich and poor…young and old…black and white and Asian and Hispanic…homeowner and homeless…Christians and Jews and Hindus and Muslims. We all want the same things.

The tenor of public discourse is hateful and puerile and counterproductive. It is cruelly critical and unforgiving and precludes consensus. But come together we must. If not, we are lost. And the dream of a vital, open, inclusive, progressive, joyful America will be but a sad memory.

The woman waiting in line behind me felt really bad for me and reminded the clerk that I had my receipt and the policy seemed unfair.  After all, she added, I had paid full price for the sweater and the store would sell it again for an additional profit.

She made sense;  so I decided to keep the sweater, forfitting my $7.  “It’s such pretty sweater,” the woman commented.  “Yes,” added her young son.  “It’s beautiful.”  And so it was: a summery, white, crocheted work of art.

“Would you like to have the sweater?” I asked the woman.  “I will never wear it.”  She was incredulous, touched, and accepted my gift.

Before I could walk away she hugged me and said “God bless you.”

Her blessing meant far more to me than the price of that sweater.

Is this constant online connectivity good or bad for youth? Read the article and make a comment.

Dear Pat Robertson,
I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I’m all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I’m no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth — glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven’t you seen “Crossroads”? Or “Damn Yankees”? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there’d be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox — that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it — I’m just saying: Not how I roll. You’re doing great work, Pat, and I don’t want to clip your wings — just, come on, you’re making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That’s working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.
Best,
Satan

Of course President Obama deserves the Nobel Prize. He is the first leader we’ve had in a long time who understands the importance of, and advocates for, cross-cultural awareness, respect, appreciation, and sensitivity.

I am embarrassed that so many of my fellow Americans exhibit a narrow-minded, ignorant, even xenophobic mindset vis-a-vis both domestic and foreign policies.

My blog title reflects the joy I receive from hearing the voices of my students from around the world.  To hear some of their voices, please visit my web page: Global Voices.