Well, I've been a Kansas resident for six weeks. I've really enjoyed the people I've met here and, despite my misgivings based on media reports, I've not found a rabid fundamentalist of any stripe among 'em. One afternoon, driving down a Topeka street, I did pass the idiot reverendwhatzisname who paraded around Mathew Shepherd's funeral with his 'God Hates Fags' posters, but to my great credit, I didn't flip them off or otherwise indicate what consummate buttheads I think they are. Otherwise, folks here seem to be cool, smart, fun and surpassingly friendly.

I think the truth is, anyone in this country can impose their viewpoint on others if the rest of us fail to participate in the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. That's what happened in Kansas and in other communities where people with a particular agenda have taken over. WE have no one to blame but ourselves. If we hand over our public life to others who themselves take it seriously enough to participate, well, ... that's the nature of our political structure. This whole episode, which I believe has now blown over, as detailed above, might be a superb lesson in citizenship ....

ww