=0 Those poor Pakistani people.. 40,000 dead... geeze. I watched a video at some point this past year (maybe an IMAX?) that explained experts' predictions that there would be a devastating earthquake near the Kashmir and Islamabad region very soon (meaning within a few hundred years)... apparently there was major tension in the region where two continental plates that were supposed to be sliding against eachother got stuck, and it was just a matter of time before forces built enough to break the obstruction keeping them from moving. While I listened to this information, images of Islamabad and other very old and beautiful cities passed across the screen. It was all academic to me, I just enjoyed the pretty pictures. The message has certainly sunk in now though. I'm sure there are many religious leaders in the Middle East preaching that this was a punishment from heaven, and that the recent political decisions President Musharraf has made in support of the evil West (US) has brought this punishment onto the Pakistani people. *sigh* Nevermind that it was inevitable and, had the President refused help to the US, there would probably be less aide pouring into the region. Today, I'm feeling extremely lucky to have been born in this nation, to have all of my physical needs fulfilled, to feel not the slightest bit of oppression, to have luxuries at my fingertips like the computer I'm typing on now. I'm almost ashamed of how lucky I am, while people across the world are suffering such misery.

I've also been reading "The Killer Angels" - Michael Shaara, which has made me very sentimental about our nation...