Despite a torrent of engaging and passionate dissent in the in-tray, the Dish’s readership is pretty evenly split on the implications and seriousness of the latest NSA revelations. 65 percent thought the program should continue if it prevents terror attacks; only a third deemed Edward Snowden a hero; but 80 percent worried about the future growth of such meta-data gathering. Full poll results here – and you can still vote above.
I defended Sam Harris’s love of Islam’s spirituality and fear of its fanaticism. And the Pope revealed just how different he is from his predecessor, while offering tantalizing clues as to why the last Pope might have quit so abruptly. Watch Gore Vidal make an ass of himself; and Leon Wieseltier muse on idealism and Israel.
The most popular posts of the day were Fareed Zakaria’s advice on staying the hell out of Syria; and my post on the Pope, “Open The Doors!” (And The Closets?).”
Oh, and thank you for the new laptop.
See you in the morning.
The Dish 