I heartily agree with Musket's comments about religion.

Many people focus solely on the evil that certain factions within many—unfortunately, most—religions practice. But they ignore the good that many religions do.

How many here are familiar with, or are even aware of, organizations such as the Lutheran Peace Fellowship or the Fellowship of Reconciliation, or of the multiplicity of similare church-sponsored organizations?

Now, I'm not a particularly religious person, and I don't care to go into the details of my beliefs (or lack thereof) in this post (some other time, maybe), but I am a member of a local church, one of the main-line denominations (Lutheran), that tends to take a more philosophical approach to their beliefs and puts heavy emphasis on practicing those beliefs rather than merely yapping on about them. And if one does not agree, they shrug their shoulders and respond, "Well, that's your privilege," and let it go.

Among other things, it sponsors programs to find low-cost or no-cost housing for the poor and homeless in this area, and they offer free meals in the parish house next door to the church so that no one need go hungry. And they don't make people pay for the meal by inflicting a sermon on them. And when possible, they help people find jobs.

And this is by no means a wealthy church. But they use what resources they have to do real, tangible good in the world. No matter what the beliefs of those recipients might happen to be.

So I have a considerably different view of religion than some people on this forum have. But my view comes from experience, up close and personal.

Now I'm fully aware of the atrocities that have been committed throughout history in the name of various religions. But more often than not, these atrocities are not consistent with the core beliefs of the religion, and oftentimes were committed for secular rather than religious reasons. I don't think that Jesus would be too happy about the Inquisition burning "heretics" at the stake, or that Mohammed would agree with the idea of cutting the fingers off of a musician's hands.

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After reading the Guardian story and watching the video clip, I firmly believe that this is one area in which the international community—the United Nations, for example, complete with whatever military forces are necessary—is morally obligated to intervene.

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And Vic, I'm curious to know what points in my above post you didn't agree with. Granted, I should have included West Africa. I've never had an opportunity to travel in the area, but in an Anthropology class in college, I did an extensive term paper on Timbuktu, its history and anthropological make-up of the surrounding area. Fascinating stuff!

But were there other points? I ask, not to be confrontational, but in order to be well-informed and repair any holes in my own knowledge.

Don Firth