>That action is necessary, but action against the people responsible - not action against Arabs simply because, well, they're Arabs. And not action against people who are making jokes, no matter how senseless and bereft of taste those jokes may be.
>But what can one say to such people? What can one put up against the hatred, the fear, the bloodlust?

Love. Love your neighbour as yourself. We all need to realize that we are all part of this together. I'm speaking as a member of the world community -- I'm not American. If we don't all take a step back, and calm down, the situation will deteriorate beyond the point of recovery.

I've actually been quite surprised at the patience shown by the American government. There was no immediate rush to judgement, and over and over again I've seen and heard the message from American political leaders that it is not Arabs or followers of Islam that perpetrated these crimes, it is, instead, some insane zealots. To join in a lynch-mob mentality against Arab-Americans makes you no less culpable than someone who tries to convince others that all Americans are evil.

Patriotism does not allow exclusion. History has shown us that other excluded and dispossessed people in the United States, who fought for inclusion, have added a rich and vibrant heritage to the country that was absent before. It would serve your co-workers well to remember that their ancestors were once "foreigners" too. My mother-in-law tells of how when her father was growing up, there would be signs next to job postings that would say "No blacks (another word was used, which would be filtered), Jews, or Irishmen need apply."

This post brought tears to my eyes. I gave me hope. I hope you do find the words you need. They need to be said.