• OPEN DISCUSSION - For the first 30 minutes of the Thursday night forums we will have informal open discussion. This will allow for late arrivals, food & drink ordering, and new attendees to become acclimated.
• ANNOUNCEMENTS - Any events, news, or other items that you feel are of interest to the group can be announced at the start of Free Inquiry Forum.

TOPICS for Thursday (2/10/05) & Monday (2/14/05):

1. Iraqi citizens recently voted for the first time in many decades, with voter turnout in some districts estimated as high as 80%. Did the large turnout defy your expectations and surprise you?  Do Iraqis seem eager and ready for democracy? Do you agree with those who say President Bush's doctrine of spreading "freedom" in the Middle East has been vindicated? How did the recent vote affect your opinion of America's policies and Iraq's future? (Submitted by Jack)
2. Iraq Shiite leaders are demanding Islam be the sole source of legislation in the country's new constitution. What role should Islam have in the new Iraqi government and who should make that decision? If Iraq becomes a theocracy would you consider that a failure to "bring democracy and freedom" to the Iraqi people?
3. President Bush recently announced his $2.5 trillion budget that includes sizable cuts in domestic spending in order to reduce the deficit in half by 2009.  Facing reductions or complete elimination are 150 domestic programs in politically sensitive areas such as education, environmental protection, police protection, farm subsidies, Medicaid, food programs, and Amtrak.  The new budget does not include  the costs of continuing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, nor startup costs for privatized accounts in Social Security. How do the proposed budget cuts reflect our national priorities, and do you agree with President Bush's approach to deficit reduction? (Submitted by Jack)
4. Why do so many professional athletes publicly express their faith? Are athletes more prone to "magical thinking" due to their profession? At what point would you consider an athlete's public expression of faith to be offensive?
5. OPEN DISCUSSION.

Quote of the week: "All of the ulema (clergy) and marja, and the majority of the Iraqi people, want the national assembly to make Islam the source of legislation in the permanent constitution and to reject any law that is contrary to Islam." [Statement released by Sheikh Ibrahim Ibrahimi, a representative of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayad, one of the five key marja religious leaders in Iraq]

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