• 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 (3/17/05) & Monday (3/21/05):

1. Time magazine recently reported that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al Qaeda's chief ally in Iraq may be planning attacks on "soft targets" in the United States including movie theaters, restaurants and schools. Do you fear this might be a viable threat? How can such attacks be prevented? Why haven't their been any attacks in the U.S. since 9/11? Do you believe it is inevitable that their will be another attack on U.S. soil? It was also reported that al-Zarqawi believes anyone can bribe their way into the U.S. if they have enough money and that "willing martyrs" are impossible to stop. Do you agree?
2. For almost two years White House "reporter" James Guckert, a.k.a. Jeff Gannon breezed through security and was allowed to lob softball questions to the White House Press Secretary and even President Bush himself. How was someone who worked for a "news" web site owned by a GOP activist, able to obtain White House press credentials under an assumed name? Is the independence of the free press from interference and manipulation on behalf of the government under attack? If so, in what ways and what can be done?
3. Ashley Smith, was held hostage and eventually released by, Brian Nichols, the suspect in Atlanta's courthouse slayings. It is being reported that the faith of Ashley Smith was a major factor involved in saving her and possibly prevented more deaths. How much of a factor do you think faith played in this ordeal? How do you feel about the media coverage of what has transpired?
4. OPEN DISCUSSION.

Quote of the week: "I always wondered if everything hit the fan would I turn round and say a few 'Our Fathers', a few 'Hail Marys' - and the fact that there was nothing there for me and I never did, confirmed to me my lack of faith, and it strengthened me, I think... I never once thought of turning to God and that was as much a driving thing - I think if for one moment I'd ever thought 'If I say a few prayers Someone will help me' or 'I should go and meet my Father and die' I would have just sat and died." [Joe Simpson - Touching the Void]

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