Tracy,

>There is a major problem (in my opinion) with the poll though.

I've been very ironic in my replies regarding this subject (the war against Iraq), and perhaps I should apologyse for that. I realized (maybe I'm wrong) that people beliefs are based in those "truths" they know or have access to. Think that we all here are good will people, wishing the best for everybody in the world. I really believe in that. Of course there are those damned guys that should be put in jail, that are sploiting, humiliating and doing all sorts of crimes one can tell.

Beliefs, IMO, are mainly based in each one's culture, life experience and information that is "supplied" to him/her, not to talk in the surrounding society's influence (at the end this could be included in the topic "culture") and level of criticysm.

People make their opinions, act and say things based on their beliefs. I'm not (and even don't want to be <s>) a sociologyst, but two stories came up to my mind, that think have much to do with people's positioning (based on their beliefs) regarding the Iraq war, as to the positioning of world leaders, and helped me to understand much that is happening in these last threads in UT.

If you haven't read the books or seen the movies, please accept my recomendation, think it is worth of your time:

The man who would be king - Book or Movie

by Rudyard Kipling, Louis L. Cornell. The story of the man who would be king describes the journey of two half-mad yet determined Englishmen from obscurity in India to divine rule in far-off Kafiristan. The two men smuggle themselves into Afghanistan posing as a mad priest and his servant, steal some mules when their camels can go no further, trek over the vast mountains, and set themselves up as kings by demonstrating the power of the rifle to spear-brandishing natives (in the most murderous way, one might add). They later establish their status as gods by introducing Masonic mystery and orders to the mountain villages. Eventually, however, their humanity is exposed, thus wrecking the dream of empire.

The name of the rose - Book or Movie

Novel by Umberto Eco, published in Italian as Il nome della rosa in 1980. Although the work stands on its own as a murder mystery, it is more accurately seen as a questioning of "truth" from theological, philosophical, scholarly, and historical perspectives. The story centers on William of Baskerville, a 50-year-old monk who is sent to investigate a death at a Benedictine monastery. During his search, several other monks are killed in a bizarre pattern that reflects the Book of Revelation. Highly rational, Baskerville meets his nemesis in Jorge of Burgos, a doctrinaire blind monk determined to destroy heresy at any cost.

Regards,

Fernando

PS. I love you all fellows! <s>