Thanks

Schneiders,
I would like to thank you all for the laughter-filled moments I had while watching "The Opposite of Pizza". The world is a bit brighter today. I am spreading the word...and looking forward to Blacksburg.

Letter to a Christian Nation

Sam Harris takes on the role of the rational voice in addressing the predominant Christian base of our country. He makes some interesting points and certainly presents an unpopular view (attacking all of religious faith) which I find refreshing in this instance. Here's a snippet:

"Religion raises the stakes of human conflict much higher than tribalism, racism, or politics ever can, as it is the only form of in-group/out-group thinking that casts the differences between people in terms of eternal rewards and punishments. One of the enduring pathologies of human culture is the tendency to raise children to fear and demonize other human beings on the basis of religious faith."

Sometimes I read poems

I do! I've been enjoying some by William Stafford recently. Here's one:
Actually I just read them over and I'm going for two--


Traveling Through The Dark

Traveling through the dark I found a deer
dead on the edge of the Wilson River road.
It is usually best to roll them into the canyon:
that road is narrow; to swerve might make more dead.

By glow of the tail-light I stumbled back of the car
and stood by the heap, a doe, a recent killing;
she had stiffened already, almost cold.
I dragged her off; she was large in the belly.

My fingers touching her side brought me the reason--
her side was warm; her fawn lay there waiting,
alive, still, never to be born.
Beside that mountain road I hesitated.

The car aimed ahead its lowered parking lights;
under the hood purred the steady engine.
I stood in the glare of the warm exhaust turning red;
around our group I could hear the wilderness listen.

I thought hard for us all--my only swerving--,
then pushed her over the edge into the river.

Meditation

Animals full of light
walk through the forest
toward someone aiming a gun
loaded with darkness.

That's the world: God
holding still
letting it happen again,
and again and again

William Stafford