I'm truly sorry if I offended anyone with comments about being vegetarian or republican or whatever. Again, I think people should do whatever makes them comfortable as long as they don't hurt anyone else, and this is not the place for political discussions. It's just that here, in South Carolina, most of the people I hear that are very vocal about being republicans are of the Rush Limbo or Gordon Liddy type, which is not only the opposite of thoughtful but has nothing to do with the history of conservative (or republican) philosophy, just as most people I hear who are very vocal about being democratic or liberal (like the ones who are offended by the word "Christmas"), have very little relation to the history of democratic or liberal philosophy either. I do not identify with either group. I'd like to establish the H.D. Thoreau party.

With holiday wishes to all, Chet W.