This isn’t a long post today, and is actually a reiteration of what was my Book of Faces status this morning.

It has been interesting these days since the Boston Marathon bombing to see how many people were accusing the bombers of being from the Middle East and Africa. After all, we’ve had the military there for over a decade in a go-nowhere war against ghost-men perpetuated on fear. Yet, today, we find out that the bombers were brothers from Chechnya (that would be the Chechen Republic, a part of Russia). The Chechens have been fighting with pretty much everyone, mostly Russia, for decades.

Folks, more than just residents of the Middle East and Africa hate Americans, and yet – when I have traveled – I’ve been welcomed by the people I meet.

Have some faith in Humanity. Don’t crucify everyone from a country or region based on the actions of a few… I mean, I DO like some people from Illinois, so they aren’t all “FIBs“. (See what I did there?)

I’ll leave (for now) with this quote:

“It’s a fact—everyone is ignorant in some way or another.

Ignorance is our deepest secret.And it is one of the scariest things out there, because those of us who are most ignorant are also the ones who often don’t know it or don’t want to admit it.

Here is a quick test:If you have never changed your mind about some fundamental tenet of your belief, if you have never questioned the basics, and if you have no wish to do so, then you are likely ignorant.

Before it is too late, go out there and find someone who, in your opinion, believes, assumes, or considers certain things very strongly and very differently from you, and just have a basic honest conversation.

It will do both of you good.” ― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration