Fear is not something we can turn off, something we can consciously control.

Too many media outlets, elected officials and community leaders have prematurely labeled the Boston Marathon bombing an act of terrorism. Not all murders are terrorism -- it implies a political or ideological intention, and the "causing of terror" is not enough to merit that label.

While terror aims to inflict fear and heighten the divide, it can also become a catalyst for unity, courage, and change. I hope we learn from this as a nation, and as a community. We expect more from our elected officials and our lawmakers.

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The veil of civil society has always been as thin as the drywall behind which we hide. There were potential bombers, shooters, infanticidal maniacs, and murderers of all kinds walking among us yesterday, and they will still be smiling in our faces and bidding us faux salutations tomorrow.

When one considers how completely out of whack our defense budget is in the post 9/11 age of perpetual war, the cuts will still leave us with a military budget that dwarfs all other countries combined.

Recently, I went through security for a flight from San Francisco to Palm Springs. I've learned to streamline my security screening by leaving my watc...

WASHINGTON — As Americans debate whether they are better off now than they were four years ago, there is a similar question with a somewhat easi...