There are individuals who, despite their own destructive nature, effect substantial change for good in the world. I'm thinking of scientists and philanthropists and artists, people who influence others at arms length. But most individuals need to change their own thought processes if they desire to change their behavior to improve their impact on their circle of family and friends.

As a child who still believed in the validity of Christ's 'word', I couldn't imagine how people calling themselves Christian could stroll past the homeless and hungry on their way to church. But we soon learn to shrink our compassion to the size of our own dining room table, never jettisoning the comforting personal label of Christian, or American or Liberal.

If nothing else, we require the tough mental work to perceive our own hypocrisy of belief.

There is a certain visceral honesty to the lives of people that openly express hatred for 'the other', as long as they do not cloak themselves in religious or racist doctrine and as long as they do not act on their emotions.

The personal price paid for sustaining fear, anger and hatred is enormous.