Now that I'm driving again, my commuting exploits are hardly interesting fodder for a blog. So, I'm taking on a new topic for the month of June: meanness and hating in America. I've been inspired by the irrational episodes of hating I've witnessed (and engaged in myself, truth be told) on the freeways and the general lack of incivility that seems to be spreading into every aspect of modern life.

To kick off this fun topic, I present my most recent piece of hate mail. There's a goodly number of folks who take personal offense at opinions other than their own. Instead of responding with thoughtful critiques or even point-by-point debate, they sputter juvenile slurs -- anonymously, of course. It's all I can do not to repond "I know you are, but what am I?" or "same to you poopy head." This is one of those.

You are an idiot. ... I'm sure glad I don't subscribe to your paper. You should not be a columnist.

Compelling argument, no?

Meanwhile, I will be posting other incidences and essays on hate and incivility and sheer meanness that pervades 21st century America, with the hope of answering some of my own questions on why people feel compelled -- entitled, even -- to level verbal violence on complete strangers.