Doug said

"I just read again, Marty's original posting, and I guess we have strayed a bit.

"Marty, you were concerned, I believe, about the extreme fundamentalists position's as they related to the "Troubles" in Ireland and between the Jews and the Palestinians. You wondered why there weren't more people who could take a moderate positon on those subjects."

Thanks Doug. Yes that is what I was feeling, and I certainly was emotional when I wrote it. To me a moderate is not neccessarily one with moderate opinions on all issues, just someone that doesn't allow their ideology to cloud ALL issues. I'm a Democrat, but I'm not afraid to speak out when they act abominably. I value my religion, but when it's leaders act strategically rather than logically, I'll complain. My views are wide ranging but they're mine. I won't follow a party line.

marty