THE ROOTS OF BIGOTRY RUN DEEP The seeds are planted early in our families, neighborhoods and regressive religious training. Those seeds are nurtured as we grow and cross-pollinate each other with little slanders, slurs and smears until it all blossoms out into an angry community of misguided citizens who bear the bitter fruit of hatred, ignorance and violence. And the problem goes back as far as you can look. Even so, democracy has continued to grow. The slaves were freed, women got the right to vote, the First Black President and gay marriage! Democracy has been badly bruised in recent years, but it will survive, thrive and grow even stronger and more compassionate than ever. Democracy now! Democracy tomorrow! Democracy forever!