Remembering Oklahoma City

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the horrific bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. 168 people were murdered in what was the worst terrorist attack in the US until 9/11. Unlike the September 11 atrocities, Oklahoma City was the work of Americans, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who let their own unbridled rage grow to the point where they felt justified in slaughtering their fellow citizens.

We are living in a time of intense political polarization, when rhetoric on both sides is growing dangerously unhinged. The head of one of our two major political parties has stated openly that he "hates" the opposition. Judges receive death threats for making controversial decisions. On this anniversary of the Murrah Building atrocity, all of us need to step back and remember what such rhetoric can lead to.

For more on the anniversary, visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial Web site. Please remember the victims and their families.