Take for example, the letter in the 31 July issue in which the write states, "They have a hidden agenda… their ultimate goal is to rule the world from Jerusalem". He doesn't even mention who "they" are or provide support for this claim or any others. He does however, then pass sweeping remarks about "distorted scriptures" and the Chosen People, so I can only assume he is spitting venom at all Jews.

Such rhetoric serves no purpose other than to incite hatred. It avoids logic and facts, functions on rumours and assumptions, and tries to appeal to our basest emotions, rather than our intellect. And it always ends up sounding like a finger-pointing speech by a Bush or a Bin Laden or an al-Zawahiri.

For people who spew these extremist diatribes against the US and Israel, terms like 'Christian/ Zionist conspiracy' are the backbone of reasoning, just like 'Islamic threat' is for the other side of the argument. These terms are not only vague and useless, they're damaging to any hope for conflict resolution. And generally, you'll hear them alongside other amusing but equally-harmful conspiracy theories such as 4,000 Zionists/ Israelis/ Jews absent from the Twin Towers, a claim which most sources say originated from Hezbollah's television station. Coincidence? What starts as mindless rants by a few people turns into belief for people halfway across the world.

Hate-filled monologues only repulse independent thinkers, twist the minds of the easily-influenced. How can Israel be the ONLY priority for a Christian patriotic America?

And I'm concerned that people are writing letters to the DS only with the intention of venting and propagating hatred.