So, I have to share with you, the two latest books that I have been reading. The first, is by this British intellectual (well, maybe that's pushing it) by the name of Christopher Hitchens. The book titled, "god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything," has been amusing, strange, and erratic. It's definitely a book that is littered with scientific diatribes and heady reasoning as to why "religion" is as a system, can be mindwarping, unreasonable, and almost cultlike. If you know me, you know that I share perhaps a little of that opinion...that religion as a system as it is man-made, is far from anything God or Christ wants to associate with. Religion is a blank term, but it brings so much baggage with it. Faith and religion are two separate things. Many people cannot differentiate between the two, and typically blend the two together. Hitchens tries to somehow illuminate the baggage of religion and how that creeps into the intentions, decisions, and moments of world affairs. I bought the book knowing that I might be offended. But, maybe it's because I went to a liberal arts college, and had to read these strange suedo-controversial books that were meant to provoke infant intellectual conversation about religion or faith. I guess that's why I am open to reading about "the other side." I once read that reading books can only inform your faith if you know what you believe. If you do not know what you believe to begin with, books can only fracture or disassemble it all. I am not so sure that I buy into that theory, but I know books like Hitchen's book, gives me some sense of perspective from someone who sees the same God I am looking at, but with a different purpose. I guess I want to know what that purpose is.

The other book I am reading is by Colonel Jack Broughton titled, "Rupert Red Two: A Fighter Pilot's Life from Thunderbolts to Thunderchiefs." I remember when I was in high school, I had to do some research paper, and I chose to do it on the air war over Vietnam. Broughton's book, titled "Thud Ridge" was the main source for my paper. This new book of Broughton's is basically his autobiography, recalling his flying days from WWII through Vietnam. One of the moments of Broughton's life that I find fascinating is how in 1961, he was chosen to command the 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron based at Minot Air Force Base. When you grow up in Minot as I did during the late 80's, you got used to seeing the 5th FIS flying around town in their massive F-15s with the ever recognizable yellow and blue flash on their tails. That was until the 5th was moved to the Mass. ANG, and Minot no longer was a fighter base. Broughton definitely describes his Minot experience in a witty way that is dead on...the weather, the landscape, and the absolute flat-ness of ND. Anyway, I bought this as an enjoyable read as I love anything to do with military aviation. This book is probably not going to be one you will rush out and get, but then again, this book is a great easy read about the coming of age of the Air Force's jet age. More later...