"and finally and most horrifically, a direct quote, "At least we got rid of Barbara Olson."
Well, it is important to conduct yourself civilly, and learn how to harness your temper and emotions as you grow older. But I believe it is just as important to reserve the right to outrage. To say to oneself, I know what I SHOULDN'T do right now, but if I don't yield to what my heart and soul are demanding right now, this piece of puke will diminish me in a way that is permanent.
If someone had said that to me about the fine and good and lovely Barbara Olson TEN DAYS! after 9/11, there would have been copious amounts of blood on the floor. And that's including even if the heartless, immature mocker had been a woman.
Wrong attitude my FRiend: we're better than that! They'd surely attribute their ass-whoopin to your inability to deal with their penetrating insight.
You should just make sure you're standing behind them as they pass by the next long flight of stairs ;o)