You already know my views on religion, but I do appreciate that your prayers are a gesture of concern and goodwill. We need more good people like you, regardless of what beliefs motivate you to be what you are.

My own belief in the overall goodness of humanity and their ability to make things better through intelligence and cooperation has been sorely tested these past several years and I hope this will create a turning point where we will realize we are all better off when we work together for the common good instead of "me first and the hell with everyone else".