Do you think Obama will put on a tie for the occasion or do you suppose he'll still dress up like his best buddy Ahmidinijad?

I agree, it just isn't right and for exactly the reasons you outlined. Wish I could give you a hundred thumbs up. With comments like these, we really don't have to wait until the Left destroys our country - our culture.

It's not my intention to contradict you for the sake of contradiction; he is both. One explanation is that some varieties of Russia's Christian denominations are pretty odd takes on the real thing. When the USSR fell and religion was allowed back in, the religions - although they kept their original names, were permuted versions of the genuine article. Catholicism, never a hit in Russia, is still perceived as a threat - in part because it's also true to the actual rites of Catholicism. China has a similar thing going - some ban was lifted on religion and bingo -lots of cults named after actual religion (as you prob. know, the Chinese periodically round up and imprison members of the new religions) Buddhism in China controlled Tibet is not the Dali Lama's Tibetan Buddhism. Fidel Castro, who claims to be Catholic, is not practicing the same Catholicism as some of your friends and neighbors. And let's not underestimate Communism's contribution to the radicalization of Islam.

He's a Commie and also an Orthodox Christian.

Leaving the question of tolerance to the side for the moment, there's something refreshing about a Commie regarding Satan as problematic. Now if only he'd apply his logic to Communism - one of Evil's most hideous deceptions to date.

Hojo, I was also awakened by facts. In my case, it was around Israel's basic right to exist . I reside in an extremely left wing community and was basically too lazy to look into anything to do w/Israel and so accepted what my (very left wing ) Jewish neighbors had to say about Israel's right to exist. Then I met the man I am now married to - he's Jewish and actually bothered to understand his own background/history. He didn't accept my bs as fact. I took that as a loving challenge and became responsible for my own thinking. I read everything I could about Israel - across a very broad spectrum - and became truly well informed. I now understand that not only does Israel have a right to exist , but it's very existence is fundamental to the Western world's (and the whole of the Arab world's ) freedom. My thinking grew from there. I'm grateful to have a free mind and a well informed intellect today. And I wish the same for anywrong as well.

Roger - keep up the good work. aynwrong keeps engaging - albeit w/an oversized (insecure) eogistic approach - but, you never know when your honest words will find their way home and bear fruit. In aynwrong's case, a mind finally cleared of leftist rubbish.

If the only thing Scientologists did was "healing touch" is would not only be harmless, it could be positively helpful.

Trouble is, that's not all they do. The touch is simply the first step to obtaining the entire contents of your wallet. Their dogma is asinine and their purpose deceitful and malevolent.

YES! Finally something sensible from France. I posted above in detail - here in brief: If you or yours suffers from Addiction Disorder - Scientology is in the rehab busine$$ (under pseudo names) STAY AWAY!!!! There are lots of good treatment facilities - there is real hope for recovery - I'm not advocating AA (although I think it's helpful) but I do suggest that even if you don't stay w/AA, at least do yourself a favor: go to a meeting (or a few) and ask for people who have been through effective treatment centers to talk w/you after the meeting. Scientology advertises heavily on the radio/internet (don't know about TV) It's dangerous. Well, this was not so brief after all :) Hope it's helpful.

PLEASE NOTE: This can save lives. If you, yourself, or a loved one is seeking treatment for Addiction Disorder please be aware that Scientologists have in$serted themselves into the treatment business - they advertise heavily on the radio/internet (no idea about TV - don't watch) and change names from time to time. ASK direct questions and keep eyes and ears. People can and do recover using different (and even faith based) methods - but Scientology is mainly - and disgracefully - preying on the desperate. Need help? Do yourself a favor and attend an AA meeting. Even if you decide AA is not for you - at least stick around long enough so you can ask someone who has been through decent rehab to talk w/you after the meeting. Hope this helps someone.