It is going to be interesting to see how the words of sages past are used to reflect current feelings and attitudes in a climate that inspires many compare/contrast situations. Watching CNN today, I noticed the recital of crimes and harassment's against Muslims, Hindus, and other groups and thought of Twain's early newspaper columns in which he called attention to Sunday Schools that preached lessons against the Chinese. With considerable irony, Twain responded no one should be surprised if young boys would go out and stone Chinamen with the glow of religious righteousness. I also noticed the ongoing pressures on Bill Mahr's "Politically Incorrect" show and thought of Twain's statement that "only dead men can tell the truth." On one hand, we see old bigotry's rising to the surface--on the other, we see voices seeking to suppress dissent. Twain has much to say about these matters and I suspect his voice is going to be of even more interest in the classroom than it has in recent years.