First Congregational Church of Bennington
Old Bennington, VT
Burial place of Robert Frost

 Dear Nephew,

 Earlier this evening, I ran into Sarah down at the store. Sarah, who teaches health at Purview High, was complaining about federal interference in the sex education program. She says the Bush administration wants to suppress teaching condoms as a way to prevent pregnancy, VD, and AIDS, the preferred solution being fundamentalist and abstinence.

 "That’s fine and dandy," I quipped, "But nowadays I don’t think too many teens are prepping for the priesthood. "

"And," Sarah went on, "When I told Eben, our history teacher, he wasn't too enthused either. He said it seems the policies in Rummy's Old Europe are often more astute 'n progressive than some of those here in Bush's New World."

"Over time, Eben pointed out, Europe's fought enough ungodly wars over versions of God to have learned to keep church and state really separate."

"Problem is, Eben thought, some of our elected leaders don't read enough to avoid the blunders of the past. He recalled President Truman, a big reader, once saying There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know. "

"Amen, to that," I said.

 Yours truly,
Great Aunt Maggie Pye