1 Agreed, killing a boy for not fasting is heinous. That said, I find it sad that Iraqis are not fasting when their religion suggests. I doubt all of these "fast-less" Iraqis encountered are truly renouncing their religion at the first opportunity. Indeed, some of these people have a low feeling in their stomach when they chow down at high noon. Imagine the dill-weed at the major league baseball game wearing the (intentionally) dirty hat. The "Star-Spangled Banner" begins to play: he knows he is supposed to remove his hat. The WWII veteran in the row behind him nearly-instinctually removes his pristine cap, with a noticeably shallower bill-angle than the nearly circular one fashioned by dill-weed. Mid-verse, Vet nudges dill-weed and reminds him to remove his cap. Dill-weed hadn't forgotten or renounced his country. He just thought it would roughen his incredibly smooth style if he had to remove that smelly hat that defines him. Now imagine President Bush's Inauguration. The Reverend begins his prayer, one which may have no meaning to half the people in attendance. For the other half, the prayer, if internalized earnestly, surely is one of the few appropriate simultaneous religious-patriotic moments. Imagine dill-weed, now grown up and in attendance at the Inauguration. Wouldn't it be nice if he'd shut up and stop talking with his peer standing next to him during this moment. In times of incredible tension, there is no substitute for religion. Even if religion turns out to be hogwash, there is unmatched comfort which it can bring during crisis. Here's an appropriate religious moment of agents of a goverment (wish I could have found the photo I saw last week of US Marines doing the same thing). For most other tempting religious-political scenarios, maybe we should see here. Customs, even if they look silly to an outsider, define a culture. I think that the strict rules given to the American soldiers are not inappropriate, but quite compassionate.

2 please mr. moe, this is not the forum for a lecture. notice the gut-wrenching details of the 14 year old boy's story. he was tied to a poll and beaten to death. not by an enemy force, or terrorists. this boy was beaten 85 times by men he probably knew. the mullah who reigned over his community. he broke a fasting rule - was it out of disrespect? was it a lack of reverence? does it matter in the least? he was beaten 85 times by the 'pillars' of his community, probably trusted, pious men. how quickly can you move on, mr. moe. please have some reverence for this poor boys death. is 'religion' and 'tradition' more important than the wellbeing of God's people? [whomever your God is]. i pray for the soul of that young boy. and i pray for his family, and i'll take a moment to mourn his horrible end. and i'll pray that no other child will have to endure such treatment.