When times are tough most of us would yield to visceral fears,rather than move to dispel them by sensible and compassionate behavior. I was just perusing my Facebook connections and I found that several of my friends had changed their middle names to Hussein, just to chide some of us who find significance in such baseless and tribal identities.

I admire such people and feel that by such a small act, they have made a significant gesture towards denting the "us" and "them" game that is being played in some Republican circles. I have read some ghastly, stupid, and downright racist viral mail coming out of that camp.

It is a reminder to us all of how much decency exists even in such troubled times. To talk of such decency, please see this endorsement of Mr. Obama by Gen. Colin Powell.

It is quite ironic that the word "Hussein" is derived from "husn" meaning beauty. This word literally means "beautiful little one".