Sorry, Tom. The threat is real. I have lived it. My kids have, too.

I'm grateful that no one shot at any of us. I'm not grateful for the intimidation, the rock-throwing and the vandalism. I'm not grateful for the continuing aggressive efforts to save my soul. On the other hand, I'll never have to teach my kids about the dangers of fundamentalism. They have learned by total immersion, and have become vocal opponents. The target of their anger is the ideology that has harassed them. A Muslim fundamentalist is a Christian fundamentalist with automatic weapons.

As for the continuing Muslim-bashing that passes for opposition to fundamentalism (Only Muslims Need Apply), I heard a promo for this week's This American Life yesterday. The show will be available through free podcast next week. Listen and learn what it's like to be part of a despised religious minority in a place where one supposedly is free from that kind of thing. The tyranny of the majority lives. Oppose it, or it will thrive.