A few thoughts coming off the midweek holiday:

• To my grandfather who served at the Battle of the Bulge and my father who served in the Air Force, happy belated Veterans' Day. That goes for all current and former military personnel.

• To religious right fearmongers who claim Muslims should be discriminated against or prohibited from serving in the military in the wake of the Ft. Hood massacre, I'd like to direct your attention to some especially poignant remarks by Colin Powell on Meet the Press last year.

• Kudos to CNN for showing Lou Dobbs the door. It reflects well on the network and is a step forward for civil debate on immigration, which will be especially important in the coming months as congregations across the country mobilize to pass comprehensive reform.

• The LDS Church has endorsed a Salt Lake City ordinance that protects LGBT people from workplace and housing discrimination. What a surprising and uplifting development.

• Faith leaders worldwide have responded to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's solicitation of their leadership in the fight against climate change.