Today President Obama asked Americans to be clear about who is responsible for the outrages committed by Isis and al-Qaeda.  Those organizations do not represent Islam or the million Muslims in the world.  The Koran says whoever kills an innocent person it as though he has killed all mankind,  and whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind (Qur’an, 5:32)  The President emphasized the importance of not granting these terrorists religious legitimacy. “The leaders of Isis and al-Qaeda are not religious leaders… They are terrorists,” the President said.

A few hundred people became new citizens of the United States today in Golden Hall at San Diego Concourse.  I joined several other volunteers there to help the new Americans register to vote.  What a pleasure it was to recognize the great sense of relief and joy the new citizens expressed as they came out of the meeting where they swore their allegiance to the United States of America.  In this country there is no religious obligation whatsoever.

When I got home this afternoon I slipped quietly into a hidden position near the hummingbird nest to watch.  The little guys weren’t disturbed, so with my longest lens on the camera I got another picture. A couple of hours later they were sitting on the edge of the nest... practicing, I guess, for the moment when they will launch into flight for the first time.