I do admire it when someone manages to hold obviously very strong emotions back enough to write such a restrained yet powerful piece as this. I suppose the current state of the world can't help but intrude, and I suppose also that my own revulsion at the behaviour of some of our own politicians about that affect my opinions here, but even so I hope I can stay objective enough to see this for the fine piece of writing that it is.

I don't think I've read anything by you before, but that's going to change!

excellent. you really cinched the whole issue of "nationalism as a cause for war". of course, it's idiotic. yet you manage to gently criticise in a way that is subtle, flavorful, and tremendously effective. your views are a reminder to myself to never become complacent, to be a constant sufferer, thinker. *bows down at her Brett shrine* superb.