This morning, I found the following stories "above the fold" on CNN:

Christians flee Iraqi city after killings, threats, officials say

At least 900 Christian families have fled Mosul in the past week, terrified by a series of killings and threats by Muslim extremists ordering them to convert to Islam or face possible death, officials said Saturday.

Speaker at McCain rally says non-Christians want an Obama win

A minister delivering the invocation at John McCain's rally in Davenport, Iowa Saturday told the crowd non-Christian religions around the world were praying for Barack Obama to win the U.S. presidential election.

I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach over the deep divide John McCain and Sarah Palin are creating in the electorate. Considering the ravenous, Obama-hating monster unleashed by John and Sarah over the past week or so, I'm beginning to fear the things to come. The other day, even John McCain had to step back in the face of an almost overwhelming and hostile crowd of his own supporters! When he tried to calm their fears, he was booed. How long before it's totally out of his control?

In fact, I believe we are almost at the point of no return. Rational, intelligent Americans know that Barack Obama is a Christian. Actually, most of us don't care what religion he follows. The point is, we don't fear him. We see him as Presidential. However, it's very clear that, from recent video reports shot before and after recent McCain/Palin events, too many Americans are indeed extremely irrational, and deeply fearful of Barack Obama. Many of them already believe Obama is no different than the Muslim extemists in Mosul. I'm an agnostic, and don't go to church, but I wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall in some of our local Pentecostal or Baptist churches. I'll "betcha" (thanks for that, Sarah) there will be a lot of sermons pitting "them" (Muslim) against "us" (Christian) over the course of the next few days and weeks. Of course, it would be unsuprising when they include Obama in the "them" column.

No one can deny that McCain, Palin, and surrogates are stoking the flames of fear and hatred. I believe things are reaching critical mass. Very soon, McCain will have to put America first, and calm the fears. Hopefully, he will realize that, what he and Sarah are doing, is destroying our country, the same country he allegedly loves. Otherwise, it will not be long before Palin starts to suggest that, in her own little homey way, an Obama presidency will force good Christians, such as herself, to convert to Islam or die. When that happens, if that happens, it'll be too late for John and Sarah to turn things back. In fact, by then, they may have to run for their own lives.