Here and There

Here are some interesting poll numbers done through the UK Spectator. They asked 798 Iraqis a series of questions involving the war, the peace, and the future. On the asset side of the ledger: they think the war was the right thing to do, they feel relatively friendly to the Americans, they don't want Sadaam back, they expect life to better one year from now (and 5 years from now), they want US and UK troops to stay long-term, and want a multi-party western-style constitutional democracy. On the liability side of the ledger: they think the war was either for oil or for Jewish interests, they think everyday life is actually worse today than one year ago, and they think essential services are woefully inadequate (electricity, water, medicine, crime, etc.) Much done, so much left to do, much cause for hope and optimism.

I've written about this several times already, but the Globe reminds us of the NH Episcopal Bishop vote later this month, and the schism it will likely cause in the US (and perhaps the world). This article in the conservative Anglican/Episcopal ezine Virtuosity predicts the outcome thusly: But what will happen, and this is by no means certain, is that Evangelical and Anglo-Catholic dioceses could (and should) declare themselves in "impaired" or "broken communion" with the Diocese of New Hampshire and any other disobedient ECUSA diocese, many of whom like Pennsylvania, have flagrantly disobeyed the Lambeth Conference resolution on human sexuality, not to mention Scripture, 2,000 years of church history, reason and tradition.