I dont make up shit, the world has plenty of real shit to share.... The most bigoted people I ever met were an insanely devout catholic couple that I rented a room from when I was a student in new york... since I was an okie they assumed I was a fellow racist. Their house was full of catholic icons, and they said their prayers devoutly, but they told me they would never rent to a 'nigger', and they had no problem stealing my deposit and threatening me with violence when I moved out because I couldnt sleep through them beating eachother in the evenings...

On the other side I have known genuinely good religious people- people that believed in their god with all their being... they didnt hide their belief, but they NEVER tried to push their beliefs on others, their attitude was 'I have my beliefs, you have yours- and that is as it should be'.

One of my best friends in college was a devout catholic, we had several talks on religion- we strongly disagreed with eachothers views but stayed friends. She agreed that some aspects of religion were flawed but said that people needed to believe in god... I disagreed, I think that a belief in leaving the world better than you came into it is a moral view that doesnt require a belief in god.

On the rare occasions I find myself with a 'true believer' I try to be sensitive to their feelings, and I dont bring the subject up directly or indirectly- only when they start imposing their beliefs on me do I get harsh...

Anyways, the fact is christian fundamentalists have more power in the US than in any other western nation... I lived in France a few months and while religion was important to many, it was always a private thing- "I believe this and it isnt my business to convert you"

I know France bashing is popular, but I think we could learn some things from them.

Tht said, I dont think I could stand to live there, of course Hawaii may be prejudicing my feelings

Y'all in the North east have a very merry cold Thanksgiving, as for me I think I will go snorkling, and if I want snow I just go up to the summit :)

(Hey I just had to rub it in....)