March 29, 2006:

Let's hear it for the Italians, who had the courage to grant asylum to Abdul Rahman, the Christian convert from Afghanistan. Thanks to all those who wrote and put pressure on the government of Afghanistan. Please be sure to write back and thank them for not only setting him free, but seeing that he safely got out of Afghanistan. They will be facing their own political pressure back home, I'm sure. Let us keep in mind that this type of persecution happens frequently in many parts of the world: sometimes in governments that we have a "relationship" with (Egypt, Saudi Arabia) and in some that we chose to not engage (Sudan).

If this process has taught the West anything, it is that Democracy comes in all forms, and we cannot expect countries to change from a Theocracy or a Dictatorship into an American styled Democracy overnight, or quite possibly ever.