A person with religion who prays believes it can have real, concrete results. (E.g., perhaps God will spare some lives in battle, and He will give rest to the souls of those killed and comfort to those left on earth.)

What does a person who does not pray believe a few quiet thoughts accomplish? Inner peace, or is there something else?

Not being smart-ass here, but trying to understand another belief system (very much in keeping with our post-9/11 mission of tolerance).

I don't believe prayer has any ramifications outside the brain of the person praying. That said, it certainly does serve to focus thoughts -- and in a serious time, focused thoughts are exactly what we need.

Many will see the new UN resolution as an excuse for chest-thumping. Save that for the short time between victory and the announcement of casualty figures. Right now we need to concentrate on the seriousness of the situation.

I'm just hoping that as we get closer to the final invasion, the Iraqi generals smarten up and whack Saddam, and then give us full access to the country. The events of the past few days make that scenario as likely as it's ever gonna be...

Dude,

We are at war. We have been for some time, the only difference is now we are fighting back and playing a more offensive rather than defensive game.

Rest assured, there are children in bagdhad who ask their god every night to "please bring the americans". Despite what the self loathing left might think, we are going to liberate that country and return it to the modern world, and we, the iraqis and the rest of the world we be a better place when we are done. We've tried to be nice in "Gulf War I", we've tried to do it the UN's way since then and now, we are going to do it our way.

Should we be using weapons inspectors or military invasion? I personally have always been of the opinion that the 101st airborne are the world greatest and most effective weapons inspectors.

"....we shall not falter, we will not fail"

Frank's correct...

...and the UNMOVIC team shouldn't pack a month's worth of clothes...they should travel light, and remember the road routes to Kuwait City and Amman. They'll be back sipping martinis at the Inter-Continental lobby bar and watching Brent Sadler on CNN before they know it.

steve,

thanks for being one of the few to emphasize the realities of what going to war entails...that is, death of our american service personnel, as well as innocent (and not so innocent) on the belligerent side.

this is not something to take lightly. and prayers are always called for.

and...to denise:

a moment of silence shows respect. to those who are about to fall in battle, to those who have fallen.

and praying or meditating, either one, has been shown to be beneficial in physical terms on the body and mind.

i personally have always maintained that even if you don't believe in god, that doesn't mean that god doesn't believe in you.

and who knows what god is anyway? maybe god is the universe, and a moment of silence can connect you to the godhead of the universe.

trust me, what ever is in charge always appreciates a humble moment from us human beans.

Well, Skippy, on the one hand, that's very well said (about why a moment of silence is appropriate). I hope that you understand why so many of us (including non-Republicans and non-Minnesotans) were so disgusted by last week's little display at Wellstone's memorial. It showed lack of respect (IMO), not to Ventura and Lott, but to Wellstone himself.

Just a thought....

Dean -- Agreed, it was disrespectful to Wellstone (unintended consequence), but it was disrespectful to Lott and Ventura too (intended consequence).

Stephen -- Thanks for your answer. I didn't think you were the type to believe that clapping your hands and wishing really hard can bring Tinkerbell back to life. And of course you're right that it's a time for seriousness about what we face. (To me that means no "chest-thumping" on the right, and no wailing and gnashing of teeth on the left either.)

Skippy -- "praying or meditating, either one, has been shown to be beneficial in physical terms on the body and mind." I definitely believe that's true. Lowered heart rate, blood pressure . . .

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae

The first of our dead, from 9 - 11, have no resting place but in the hearts and minds of all Americans. The devoted men and women of our armed forces will keep the faith and follow their killers and those who support them to the ends of the earth, as need be. Never forgive and never forget.

As we begin this Veterans Day weekend, a moment of silence or a prayer is quite appropriate for those who have fallen and those yet to fall to preserve and protect all of us.

Two quotes:

"War is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." -- John Stuart Mill.

"It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us the freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag.
Who serves beneath the flag.
And whose coffin is draped by the flag.
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."
-- The Rev. Dennis Edwards,
Chaplain, USMC

John Stuart Mill. My kind of liberal.