Thanks for referencing the letter, Ray. I do not read the LTTE for days at a time (sometimes) and totally missed this one. Interesting discussions. Nothing resolved, no minds changed, but all in all interesting.

My pastor posed a question yesterday that all self-proclaimed Christians should ask themselves and then answer accordingly. The sermon was about "Thanks-Living" and the question was "What if every Christian, every person in the USA no matter their religious affiliation, lived a life of thanks-living? What if we found something positive in all situations to be thankful for?"

As most of you know, where Bush is concerned, I had to look deep to come up with something to be thankful for. But if Bush had not charted the course he did, Americans may not be questioning all the things they are. Things that need to be questioned, imho. Issues like "Is it OK for the person who holds the interest of the American people in their hands to lie to one and all? Is it right for either party to 'win' at all costs? What does it mean to be a true Christian? What issues are a priority for America? What can be done about the abusive spending of the American peoples' money? What am I doing, in my daily life, to create change that will benefit mankind? How can I help change the destructive path my America is on? Is it right for preachers to 'encourage', from the pulpit, a vote for a particular candidate? Do (some) Christians think their radical behavior is the way to win souls for God?"

There are endless issues we discuss here in these threads, and I am thankful folks are questioning some of those issues. Had Bush not lied, coersed, overstated, fear-mongered, etc., we might not be asking questions, some tough questions. Had congress not been led to believe we were in mortal danger from Iraq, we would not be discussing some of the things we are. If our budget deficits were not at an all time high, we may still be living in ignorant bliss. If we were not involved in a "no win" situation in Iraq, would we even question attacking a sovereign country?

We might not have realized how corrupt our entire political system is (dems and repubs). We may never have begun to question all the pork-barrel projects, corporate greed and corruption, our lack of humanity or the real agenda of the "religous right".

Thus I am thankful for GWB, for he has shown us we need to make some drastic changes if we (America) are to survive.

The News & Record should stop publishing letters of agreement that offer nothing new.

In my opinion.