I put violence in perspective here

Likening Tom to a mass murderer because he supported and supports the US troops in Iraq is asinine. It's like saying you support murder because you support your local police. And blaming the troops there for violence is like blaming the police for criminals.

People like Don do it for effect. Just like the death toll. It's a demagogue's response. All soundbite and no substance. It's designed to appeal to folks emotions not their brain. It's like a soundtrack for a film. Suspenseful music makes the most mundane, boring actions seem exciting.

Demagogue's know they can rally masses by decrying death and painting good guys as monsters and baby-killers, but the folks with brains see a bit bigger picture and understand who the good guys and bad guys are. And demagogues ARE some of the bad guys.

Don would make a good 17th century William Stoughton. He can shout "WITCH!" and point it at someone and that someone has to prove a negative. Meanwhile even if the person is exonerated they lose. Lose prestige, influence and folks fear being associated with them.

Calling Don, and folks who practice the same tactics, "unpleasant" Barneys was me being nice and diplomatic. The HZ now has a number of folks who are regularly demonizing folks in the worst way and getting away with it.

Tom can't successfully defend himself from such a claim, and that's why it is made. It's designed to polarize the community against Tom and ostracize him and Tom has to rely on others to clear his name just as the accused witch had to rely on the good words of her neighbors, family and friends. If she was a loner or disliked, she hung. And even if innocent or cleared of the charges, the stigmata remains.

Just consider me a much more responsive Thomas Brattle.