It didn't just take time and money. It took a concerted effort by the United States to impose its Western belief system on the subject countries. The US didn't allow the Japanese emporer to continue to claim he was God-like or descended from heaven. He had to formally renouce his divine status in order to keep his figurehead position. Americans serving oversees had no qualms about introducing their cultural or religious beliefs to the "natives." Now, we go to Afghanistan and Iraq and after exepending countless lives and treasure, we have to burn bibles so as to not offend the natives and in the name of democracy we allow them to implement constitutions that enshrine into law Islam and shariah, the very cause of the problem.

I find this a strange column for a "conservative" website. I completely disagree with Ms. Fields. I don't think two-piece bikinis are appropriate for little girls, period, and I certainly don't think running around topless is appropriate either. It doesn't matter whether their breasts are developed or not. Girls don't run around topless. That's society's standard and I prefer it that way. When traveling in Europe I've never felt comfortable seeing naked children cavorting around public fountains. I just find it inappropriate and not something I'm used to. I also don't like seeing bare breasts and explicit sexuality on public, daytime television in Europe. If I want to see that, I'll rent pay-per-view. The fault here lies...

Thank you, Mr. Norris, for this series. You're asking the questions that many of us try to ask, but can't. Try calling even a conservative radio show and bring up Obama's attitude towards Christianity or Islam and you'll immediatley be hung up on and denounced as a "nutter" before you get two words out. Why do we have to take anyone's word at face value? Why can't we ask questions and discuss Obama's views on all matters, including religion?