You wouldn't be the only one of us who can lament this way. You probably are just one of the few that people feel comfortable enough with to express their discontent with something you wrote. That's another aspect of the same humility that motivates your apology. I seriously doubt you will lose any readers, and likely will gain some.

And that's why I read such an intelligent blog like the Fireant. If everyone looked, talked and thought the same, we would be the Borg.

Thanks, Amigo.

Rob, thanks for the kind words. I'm not worried so much about losing readers as I am about reflecting badly on God. Everything else is secondary.

CP, you da bomb! ;-)

Eric, re: "as Americans, regardless of our political or religious persuasions, we still have much in common ..."

Thank you for those thoughts. While perusing local blog posts and responses, I've gotten the sense that, when one holds a differeing opinion from the West Texas mainstream, one has done far more than simply disagreed on an issue ... rather, one has sinned against the self-appointed dieties of approved thought, and should seriously consider relocating.

30-35 years ago, we were told, "America, love it or leave it!" And I've heard similar sentiments here, in the Tall City, this election year. It was hurtful back then, and it's hurtful today. And if an altercation in the playground of a Midland elementary school last week (following a mock election project) is an indicator, it will still be hurting someone tomorrow.

Last week, a man told an audience that, "in an American election, there are no losers, because whether or not our candidates are successful, the next morning we all wake up as Americans."

Wonderful sentiments, I think. Unfortunately, the remark was made by John Kerry. And we can't have any of that out here in West Texas, can we?

Jeff, Kerry's remark would have been much more effective had he not spent the previous six months trying to convince us that we are really "two Americas." The walk has to match the talk, or it's just an empty sound bite.

Nevertheless, your point is well taken, and I'm going to try to be less divisive in my commentary. I can't control anything but my own attitudes (and even that is sometimes doubtful), but it's a place to start.