Xenophobia and Ignorance Run Amok

The Strata-Sphere blog has a good post on the growing idiocy of Congress in its fear of all things foreign (link here). I didn't think I would ever say something like this but right now, at least as far as not falling prey to the fanatical wave of anti-Muslim ignorance that is sweeping the nation is concerned, President Bush is among the most rational and thoughtful voices in government.

Of course the President played a large roll in bringing about the atmosphere of fear in which this ridiculousness has arisen, however it seems he is now backing off his previous fear-mongering and attempting to bring Americans back to some semblance of civilization. In Congress, both Democrats and Republicans have totally failed to fight this fanatical nationalism and xenophobia, and have instead embraced it to score easy political points. As should be expected, the talking heads on the radio and television have for the most part embraced the lunacy, with the moron king of intolerance, Michael Savage, leading the barbaric march.

This ignorance is reminiscent of 1940s fascist nationalism and the blind hatred that seized Americans during WWII (which lead to the mass detention of Japanese-Americans) and has no place in the 21st century. If America is going to avoid seriously harming its image in the world, and if we want to avoid this idiocy becoming permanently enshrined in some sort of legislation reflecting this atmosphere, reasonable people have a responsibility to fight this growing mob-mentality hatred, lest it do any serious, long-term harm.