A LETTER ABOUT OUR RUDE RESPONSES, TO WHICH WE RESPOND RUDELY

Regarding how you respond to your letters: you sure seem defensive. Any time someone criticizes your site or its writing, you defend yourself in an unusual way. You respond to Michael Mills letter by stating that you "don't assume you're an anti-Semite, Mike, though you sure do write like one." Well you may not assume that he's anti-Semitic, but you do assume he writes like an anti-Semite, perhaps because he calls your article "another example of the Jewish self-obsession that may be understandable to a European Christian..." Is that just a clever way of calling him an anti-Semite -- that he may not be one, but he sure writes like one.? I'm not going to assume that you're pompous, but you sure do write like you are. See what I mean?

He never suggests that you are Jewish, yet you feel compelled to say that you are not Jewish, as your self-proclaimed "goyishe name" implies. He actually implies that you are a European Christian, which you are, and that while you may understand the article others would not see things the same way.

The most unique "dig" on a negative letter writer is the Uptight Buddhist who suggests that while your site comes from a primarily Christian perspective, you have used a Buddhist koan as the title. This sounds like a perfectly good argument, especially because in your explanation of why you chose that title you reveal that you do not understand the koan. Your telling of the koan itself is so very capitalistic I wonder if you got it out of Buddhist literature at all, or a supposed translation of the koan by a Western Capitalist. You do not cite your source for the koan, and perhaps you should.

And why do you suggest that the Buddha would approve of the back button not working, because "Past is past, and you can't get it back"? When or where does the Buddha ever say that and are you referring to a book's pages, which are what a web page emulates, or are your referring to the present moment and the theory of time? That was a very weak response that continued to show your lack of understanding of Buddhism. I wish you would cite where you get your information on the Buddha. And why do you have to be so defensive?

I came to this site because it sounded like a forum for open discussion about a new spirituality forming. I was disappointed to find such pretentious responses to people's letters. Not everyone is going to see things your way, you know. I bet you like to argue your point a lot. I'm sorry, I meant "discuss". Although typically in a discussion, the other point of view is considered. Good luck making friends. I'm sure you'll tell me all about them in your witty response to this, if you decide to post it. Or do you censor your site based on beliefs? Either way, I wish you the best of luck in accomplishing your goal.

Chip Dunn

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Funny but our good friend Master Lin Chi called the KtB offices last week.

"Comrade," he said. "It displeases the Party to see you put the words of the Capitalist dogs in my mouth. When I suggested 400 years ago in the text of the Lin Chi Lu that one should "kill the Buddha", I did not intend for the notion to be used as the title of a highly lucrative Western European online religion magazine. The commissar is beginning to think KtB is an enemy of the people --"

Just then the call waiting clicked.

"Hold on, Lin Chi. I've got a beep."

"Call waiting is counterrevolutionary!"

On the other line, a more friendly voice: "Boychik? It's Buddha."

"Hi Buddha."

"Oy gevalt, I was just reading your letters page. What the hell is a
'back button' anyway?"

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TWO READERS RESPOND TO CONTROVERSIAL BEER BREAD RECIPE

I have struggled for so long. You can't possibly understand (wait,
maybe you can) how I have hacked my way through the wilderness of the
divine in the church. I have tried my hand at being a Baptist, even a
Baptist minister. I have tried Catholicism. I have even looked
longingly at the Unitarian/Universalist church, and still something was
missing. What made it worse was that I couldn't express my problem. I
seemed to lack the language, the words.

So imagine my surprise and delight when a friend recommended your site.
Wonderful. I stare in amazement at words that speak my heart. All I
can say is, thank you. I will read everything here and feast at your
table. Now, maybe, I can glimpse God.

Tom Gissler

Finally I've found a site that seems to express what I have often found
nearly impossible to articulate. I've never been religious. In fact,
I've often teetered between extreme, somewhat unconventional, methods to
express my spirituality and atheism. While I seem to still be
window-shopping for what speaks to me, I have found that which
definitely DOES NOT speak to me. Be it church services, prayer, talk of
divine intervention or god-like wrath upon evildoers, I know deep within
myself my path does not this way lie.

Then, I stumble upon your website. Could it be, that this is what I
have been waiting for? I read the manifesto, holding my breath, waiting
for some small sign that I will yet again be disappointed. My pessimism
seems to have failed me this time. Thank you. I look forward to
visiting your site often as I continue my lifelong search for a
religion, no, a spiritual path, that speaks to me.

Jaime Jones

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Thanks, guys. But jeez it's just bread. A little flour, a little love. No big whoop.

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SEEING CHOICES IN SEEING OURSELVES

In the photo is a woman holding out a baby -- that particular part stays in my mind; the photo was one of the most compelling I've ever seen.

The story also inspired me to write some "thoughts," not a poem -- I have a daughter who writes real poetry and I know the difference!. Here it is:

The choice was between intense heat
and the cool freedom of the air.
There was no choice.

The choice was how long to wait before choosing,
leaning out in the sun:
heat or air.
Would there be help?
No help came.

The choice was what to do in the last few minutes:
yell, pray, call home.
Perhaps in the long run it mattered,
how you chose.

Thinking about not distinguishing ourselves (the survivors) from the victims; don't we leave out a group of people, namely the perpetrators; are they "us?"

I suspect what is really uniting Americans suddenly is the focus of a bad guy, so that we can think of ourselves as good. Another make-believe "story," and once again, one of the cornerstones of many
religions.

A related thought, wouldn't at least some of us be happy to see Operation Infinite Compassion take place? Strangely enough, many of the operations might be identical to Operation Infinite Justice, but with a
very dissimilar foundation and ultimately, result. We must prevent terrorism so that we and our children and elders can live safely, but perhaps there is a more "humane" way (divine way?) than using the same
weapons and methods (and thought patterns) the terrorists use.

Laurie Wolfe
Stoughton MA

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Even "Finite Compassion" might be worth a shot...

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9-11 PONDERINGS

Does the Arab gas station owner down the street send some of his profits
to al Qaeda?

Are followers of Islam mentally ill?

Are followers of Pat Robertson mentally ill?

Why do religions have to have a book?

Why doesn't God stop this madness?

When will we stop blaming man and start blaming God?

What if no one's in charge?

Count Slaz

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Tough questions, Count. We've looked into it and found some answers:

Not likely. Some, maybe. Ditto. We hear they're switching to Palm
Pilots.
He's too busy inspiring it. No time like the present. We're fucked.
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NOW HE TELLS US

If we can learn anything from the pursuit of a god is that it is futile
and ridculous. You have plenty of company on that well worn path to
nowhere. Why do you chose to believe anything? Belief is the willingness
to accept something as the truth when in fact you do not know that it
is. Knowledge and understanding are the only things worth seeking --
not further delusion.

Charles Langford

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Guess we'll pack in then, Charles. Thanks for clearing that up!

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