That chain letter sucks Brian. It does sound like some fear mongering and trying to tie Obama into the radical elements of Islam.

And that is too bad, because there is nothing wrong with Islam.

While western civilization, after the sack of Rome (which BTW was caused as much by large migrations of people from beyond Rome's borders as the internal decay of WESTERN ROME ...don't forget EASTERN or the GRECO ROMAN Byzantine Empire, centered in Constantinople, now Istanbul, lasted into the 1400's) lived in the mud huts Brian mentioned, Islam flourished among the advanced civilations from Moorish Spain, across North Africa, though the middle east and on through Persia and touched China and India. Much classical knowledge was retained there, and much was created there in the sciences and medicine, philosophy etc, and diffused back into western civilization.

In my books it is an honest religion, built on sober reflection, insight and deep sprituality...and it is the politics and radicals that have given it a bad name. Much like the radical elements of Christianity have blackened its eyes.

And to the author and resenders of that email, shame, on you beyond tarnishing an honest and important religion.

The USA has a terrible reputation for ugly elections, with candidates and their election machinery lying blatantly about other candidates. Add to this the hanging chad election, low voter turnout, coziness of elected officials to interests, and a host of other problems.....

AND HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY ACT AS A MORAL COMPASS FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD?????

Don't get me wrong. I admire the US for all it has done and tries to do...but this type of activity is ammunition for those who'd say you have absolutely no right to impose democracy anywhere in the world.

Set a good example...THAT works.


If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop