I went through a "Fisher House withdrawal"  yesterday, too much to do, with no Fisher House contact....arrrgh.  I've been at the Fisher House nearly everyday this week.  It was, neverthless a special day.  I had appointments, and lunch with a precious pal (her treat), and then attended the open house of our local community's new city hall, library and police HQ today.  Our little berg has gone high tech! 

My friend and I, are both conservative Christians.  We were discussing GOP hopefuls' possible field.  I mentioned to her my concerns about our current GOP candidate field, and the chance for Rudy Giuliani as our candidate.  She agreed with me more vociferously than I'd anticipated, in regard to my concerns that the media would call Romney's religion into question.  I began the discussion with an observation about the short-comings of the other potential GOP possibilities.  When I said "Romney seems to be the most conservative candidate, and as much as I hate the idea that his religion would be an issue, I believe it will be an issue".  My friend is an Orthodox Catholic (as opposed to a Roman Catholic).  Her response was that it should be an issue.  When I asked her why she thought it should be, she told me that she considered the Mormon religion to be a "cult".  Considering that I am related to many Mormons in Utah, but knowing very little about the religion, I was surprised to hear it called a "cult".  I do not know how wide-spread that attitude is within Christianity, but it will obviously be an issue to some Christians. 

The more I hear Rudy talk, the more I think I'll support him.  He is someone who I believe will keep our country safe, and that is really the bottom line.  I have nightmares when I think of the possibility of Shrillary winning the presidency, and only Rudy can prevent that from happening, IMHO.

While the media focuses on the newest story, i.e. the death of Anna Nicole, NASA is breathing a sigh of relief that the focus is off their in-house nutjob.  The story that caught my attention the most on the news last night was Glenn Beck's interview with Irshad Manji.  This extraordinary young woman is brave beyond belief.  Glenn was able to spend the entire hour talking with her, and it was edifying to say the least.  I wish I were going to the Secular Islamic Summit on March 4-5. 

"Secularists of Islamic Societies Gather for Unprecedented Summit

Leading Dissidents to Launch Movement for Reason, Pluralism, and Freedom of Conscience

New York, N.Y.(January 26, 2007)— From Pope Benedict XVI to the Harvard historian Bernard Lewis, people are asking, What went wrong? How did Middle Eastern cultures transform from the openness and intellectual ferment of the medieval period to the closed theocrat societies of today? Where are the secular voices of the Muslim world? Until now, they have been largely stifled and silenced. Now, bold critics of orthodoxy are calling for sweeping reforms from inside Muslim societies. With the intent of catalyzing a global movement for reason, humanist values, and freedom of conscience, delegates from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Bangladesh will assemble March 4-5 in St. Petersburg, Florida for an unprecedented Secular Islam Summit.

According the chair of the meeting, the rationalist critic of Islam and acclaimed author Ibn Warraq, “What we need now is an Age of Enlightenment in the Islamic world, of the Islamic mind-set or worldview. Without critical examination of Islam, it will remain unassailed in its dogmatic, fanatical, medieval fortress; ossified, totalitarian and intolerant. It will continue to stifle thought, human rights, individuality; originality and truth.”

Said one summit delegate, Irshad Manji, author of The Trouble with Islam Today, “This summit is proof positive that reform-minded Muslims are creating a movement. We no longer exist in isolation. Those who hate our message of free thought in Islam will keep trying to pick us off individually, but collectively we're not going anywhere except forward.”

This is good news, indeed.