Hi neighbors. Did you avoid the "Black Worm" attack on Friday? The people who make and send out these virus and worm programs do a great deal of damage to computer systems around the world. And of course, we know who has to pay for it when big business or the government has extra expenses.

I'm sure someone will deem these attacks as acts of terrorism some day soon and decide the only way to stop them is to "wire tap" the Internet. Actually it is probably already "tapped" and no one will admit it.

Tapping phone calls, including cell phones and any other communication bounced off a satellite, might seem an invasion of privacy to some. Others might see it as a necessary tool in the war on terror.

What I would like to know is when did the government hire enough people to listen in on all those conversations? That might be a pretty cushy job.

Do they just note all the times someone calls anyone? How do they know when anyone is making an overseas call? President Bush said in his State of the Union Address that all overseas calls by "suspected terrorists" are being monitored now.

How do they know who to suspect unless they listen in on all of them? And isn't it most likely the ones they don't have "pegged" as terrorists, might be the ones planning the next attack? I wonder if parents, spouses or friends of our service men and women serving overseas are considered possible subversives? But then, maybe you shouldn't worry too much about it. I am, after all, admittedly paranoid about many things. Wire tapping, secret government files on American citizens, government cover-ups, gun control, re-writing history...lots of things.

It always amazes me how people can so easily give away rights that other generations have fought and died to achieve. When does "the protection of the many" outweigh the rights of the one? More to the point, who defines "the many" and points a finger at "the one?" When I hear people proposing prayer in public school, I wonder what they really want. I think to many proponents, school prayer would mean only their version of prayer.

When discussing prayer in public schools, maybe we should clarify if we want time allowed for group public prayer, a place provided for private prayer, or a podium granted for public solicitation for a particular religious belief.

Do you want only Christian prayer in public schools? How much time should be devoted to prayer in school? Should a special room be allocated as a prayer/meditation area? If no room is available, should tax money be used to build one? Do you want public prayer over a loud speaker at the beginning of each day? Would you be willing to have your children participate in Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Native American, even Pagan prayers? What about prayer wheels in the hall way? Who would you trust to lead these prayers? If you think street gang fights are a bad influence in school, imagine gang-like hostilities between religious groups? Do the schools have time and resources for this? On second thought, perhaps a private, prayerful meditative attitude would be better.

Why do people pray anyway? As a public demonstration of belief, in moments of extreme religious zeal, to honor and communicate with God? Is it actual prayer in school that's important, or an humble and open attitude to prepare for a day of learning? And couldn't that attitude be initiated each day at home before the child leaves for school? Eliminating private prayer in school is impossible. At least for now, individual minds remain untouched by Homeland Security, and prayerful thoughts go untapped.

Until the next time friends remember; although public prayer is a freedom we all have, private prayer can't be wire tapped.