>SNIP
>>>>I agree that phrase was not a very accurate thing for him to say. Still, demographic statistics was not the point of his speech.
>>>
>>>Coming on the heels of his declarations that this is NOT a christian nation nor is it a Jewish nation, etc., and given the opposing political party's attempt to associate him with that religion during the campaign, it was not a wise choice of words.
>>
>>Maybe not. It has probably stirred up more agita back home than it did enthusiasm in the Arab world. Maybe he really isn't a typical politician who just says whatever he thinks will be most popular.
>>
>>Re Christian nation, we can argue until the cows home whether the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation per se, but it is incontrovertible that it becomes less so all the time. The latest numbers are that we are 75% Christian. That's a healthy majority but it would be inaccurate to describe the country that way when one quarter of the population is not.
>
>On another note, did you watch GPS with Fareed Zakaria today on CNN today? Very interesting:
>
>Synopsis:
>
>In a speech in Cairo this Thursday, President Obama called for a "new beginning" for relations between the U.S. and the Muslim World. This week, Fareed brings together a panel of experts from around the world to react to and analyze the speech, and what it means for U.S./Arab relations.
>
>That segment is over now. It was on from 1:00-1:30 EST today.
>
>Here are the panelists:
>
>http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/06/fareedglobalpanel.pdf
>
>I thought the comments from Maziar Bahari interesting.

No TV at the moment. Hopefully on Tuesday. I don't think the TV is shot, just a worn out rear projection lamp. When I bought it I was not aware that the lamps are rated for only 4000-6000 hours, then you get to spend another $139 or so for a replacement. This set was doing pretty well on the hours until the girls moved in ;-) Anyway, on order and due to arrive on Tuesday.

Fareed is all over Newsweek so I am already exposed to a lot of what he says.