It is a February afternoon in California – sunny and warm, with a bit of breeze to kee me awake as I stroll outside. At the moment I am avoiding some less enjoyable tasks such as scheduling new appointments and paying the bills. I am not quite procrastinating, just pondering some observations that have come my way in the new year.

Amidst the din of debate over the use of religious imagery in public “Holiday” (shall we change this word since it originally meant “holy-day”?) celebrations, a simple idea can escape our attention. This virtue is so powerful, it can change a person overnight and our world in a generation.

The war of words regarding “values” will continue for months and years ahead as crackpots, pundits, and serious thinkers ponder the 2004 election.

Yassar Arafat is dead. This is a tragedy only for his immediate family. For the Palestinians, trapped in a prison of hatred and poverty, this is good news. Arafat was the leading terrorist of the second half of the 20th century and the major obstacle to peace with Israel. He missed every opportunity offered to create an independent Palestine.

The 2004 election is over. As pundits reflect, candidates relax and a weary electorate wonders who will leave the island on “Survivor”, it is a good moment to consider what the results mean.