Pet lovers know that animals sometimes understand us better than we do, and the annals of human sin and desire provide plenty of stories to drive the point home.

Somewhere near you, somebody right now is trying to help the indigent and poor - providing food, shelter, clothing or simple kindness.

Government never falls lower than when decent people dutifully excuse their leaders' sins.

You think Vietnam was bad? Vietnam is nothing next to Kosovo.

Sometimes, political campaigns make decent people act and talk like perfect buffoons.

George W. Bush broke a mold four years ago: Even though he lost the popular vote, he governed as if he had won by acclamation.

Love can achieve unexpected majesty in the rocky soil of misfortune.