Thanks for sharing your ideas, Bobert. I think Doug's notion of inviting them in for a cup of coffee or a beer is more likely to succeed.

I don't want to seem harsh, but the thing that many of us find frustrating when reading ideas of this kind is that they seem completely divorced from the way the world really works. It's not that we don't want peace, or that we wouldn't be happy if everyone simultaneously decided to beat their swords into plowshares and agreed that they ain't gonna study war no more. But as your solution to a massive terrorist attack that killed thousands of people, and the growth of hostile forces that are actively and specifically working to kill large numbers of innocent people, you suggest that we should think good thoughts (suggestion number one), support Green party candidates (suggestion number two), and launch an advertising campaign (solution number three)? I want to give you the benefit of the doubt on this, but it's hard to believe you're serious.

I'll keep thinking good thoughts and trying to come up with alternative problem-solving approaches. I won't vote for the Green party until they come up with a credible platform and a few credible candidates (it has nothing to do with the "spoiler" effect; I didn't vote for Nader because I didn't think he'd make much of a President). As for the ad campaign, I'm happy to stick with the Voice of America, the Peace Corps, and foreign aid programs designed to help the unfortunate and show the world that we really aren't such horrible people after all; I don't think more Nike sneaker-type ads are going to win the war for us, and I sure as hell don't plan to bet my children's futures on them.