I recently did quite a bit of research on the religious right's claim to 'Christian' roots. Two scholars, Derek Davis and Matthew McMearty, wrote the article, “America's ‘Forsaken Roots’: The Use and Abuse of Founders' Quotations,” found in Journal of Church & State, Summer2005, Vol47 Issue 3, p449-472. Davis and McMearty debunked many of the ongoing myths within the religious right about Christian claims of America being founded upon 'Christian' values. They cite much evidence that many of our early leaders were deists and that “Church membership was very low (less than 30 percent) among the citizens of the various colonies during the period between the First and Second Great Awakening” (450).

I found this quote from Davis' and McMearty's essay quite appropriate, and wish it could be mandatory reading for all Christians who buy into the current misinformation: “The Bible does not require that political and governmental affairs be Christian… [they] do not fail God if the negotiated products, even laws on such controversial areas as school prayer, do not meet their standards (471). If Christians want absolute freedom to spread the gospel, they must refuse to make America a religious state with the authority to define its religious character in ways that might impede their ability to determine God's truth for themselves and to share it with others” (472).

I had no idea that I was considered one of the 'very rich' with my under-$12K annual income as a full time non-traditional student! That must mean, when I was maxing out at $37K, that I was UBER rich! To think I'd been laboring under the illusion that I was merely scraping middle class at my zenith, and now I see the light that I, too, can benefit from the fabulous Bush tax cuts and am one of the 'very rich' liberals!

Sarah's piece about the Maxim gig was FUNNY. I wonder if some of the armchair Salon critics, who pick apart the merits or lack thereof of her article and so many others, would do the same thing to Jon Stewart's Daily Show. Yes, it points out the obvious, but with humor. The absurdity of it all is funny! Remember funny? I admire Sarah's bravery, as I'm almost her identical height and weight and wouldn't have the nerve to do such brazen 'investigative' journalism. Bravo, sister. You remind me that we can laugh at others, and sometimes we need to laugh ourselves to make our point.

I'm a bit surprised by some of the letters about Salon's publication of additional Abu Ghraid photos, questioning that 'all but one' are not really torture, but 'mere' degradation.

I see a parallel here with the definition of 'abuse,' such as in domestic abuse. So... it's only abuse when it's physical and there are bruises and broken limbs? Emotional and psychological abuse is not really abuse? In some ways abuse and torture that leave no marks is more insidious and damaging than that which leaves physical evidence.

Intentional degradation and psychological harm qualifies as torture and abuse, especially in light of the premeditated humiliation that was used specifically against those from the Islamic culture. What our culture might see as a 'fraternity prank' or a 'Vegas show' is the lowest of low to Muslims. Our military learned these tactics from the Israelis.

It has come to light only recently because the court order to release them came only recently, despite the pictures (and vids) being taken 2 years ago. This needs to be shown, and hurrah to Salon for posting them.

From a reader who just renewed her subscription. :-)

A former boyfriend of mine took Ambien, didn't abuse it, didn't drink alcohol with it. He would 'sleep-eat'-- wake up in the morning and find food in his fridge gone, such as when the bagels were still there but the cream cheese dish scraped clean (you could see the finger-marks in the dish). So I don't think the vicious letter-writing troll who chastised every person with an Ambien prescription (ok, basically he chastised the entire human race, as we're all so obviously below him) as too stupid to read a prescription bottle was an accurate criticism; some who take it as prescribed still get negative side effects.

While the open letters forum has certainly been entertaining, some incredibly snippy and others quite profound, there's some letter writers in this thread that are so over-the-top angry I have to wonder why they can't get a life instead of read things on Salon they don't like, then post self-righteous angry diatribes chastising the author... and rest of the world. What's the deal, no dog to kick, no wife to beat, so you have to come in here and take it out on the rest of us?

Mean people suck.

Earlier in this thread a poster asked for a good phrase to counteract the vicious 'cut and run' accusations from Rove and the Repubs. I subscribe to a regular email sent by my congressman, Lloyd Doggett, called 'Lloyd's List.' I think he coined a clever retort delivered during a speech he gave during the phony right wing Iraq Resolution 'debate' in the House. I'm sure Doggett won't mind that we all use it to rebut the insanity:

'Spend and Bleed.'

Spread the word... err... phrase. His speech can be viewed at http://www.house.gov/doggett/speeches/06152006IraqRulefloorspeech.wmv

I'm so grateful I have at least one politician I can trust in this godforsaken state.