5 of 6  1 2 3 4 5 6   Page 5 MANLEY NOTES REACH OUT AND FEEL THE PRIDE A Billion Here, A Billion There When the Silver Throated Socrates spoke his voice was music to the American ear.  Senator Everett Dirkson was shamelessly sentimen- tal and although member of the  minority party for nearly all of his thirty-five years on Capitol Hill, he nevertheless commanded the atten- tion of his colleagues, the White House, and the American public. One of many of his famous remarks came during a Senate budget hear- ing: “A billion dollars here and a billion dollars there.  Pretty soon we will be talking about a lot of money.”  As the billions are spent, the Ameri- can tax- payer seems only to shrug and nod in silence. A billion is a difficult number to compre- hend.  The next time you hear a poli- tician use the word “billion” in a cas- ual manner, give some thought whether you want the “politicians” spending your tax money. A billion seconds ago it was 1959. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes at the rate our government spends it. Let me think this over. Muslims And The USA The world population of Muslims is estimated to be slightly more than 1 billion with about 5,220,000 in the United States.  There are essen- tially three categories of Muslims in this country: 1) immigrants; 2) American converts/reverts to Islam; and 3) those born into Muslim households. The largest population of US Mus- lims is found in the African- American ethnic group: 42%, fol- lowed by South Asians at 24.5%, and Arabs at 12.5%.  Africans, Ira- nians, Turks, Southeast Asians,  American Whites, and Eastern Europeans make up the remaining 21%. Twenty percent of the US Muslim population resides in California; 16% in New York; 8.5% in Illinois; 4% in New Jersey; 3.6% call Indi- ana home; 3.5% are based in Michigan; 3% in Virginia; 2.8% in Texas; 2.6% in Ohio, and 1.4% in Maryland. There are 843 mosques located within the borders of the USA; 165 Islamic schools, and 426 Associa- tions, all exempt from federal in- come taxes, property taxes, and most other taxes just as other churches, schools, and many non- profit associations. Among every four humans in the world, one of them is a Muslim.  Islam is the second religious group in France, Great Britain and the United States.  France, Germany, and Great Britain represent nearly 9.5 million Muslims.  There are more Muslims in India than in Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan combined.  Fourteen percent of the population of Israel is Muslim.   In the last fifty years, the Muslim population has grown at the rate of  235%; Christians at 47%, Updated Reunion News With only 200 days left until the opening ceremonies at the Home- coming Reunion in Norfolk, the numbers are reaching all-time highs.  Your reunion planner      recently struck an agreement with the Norfolk Airport Hilton hotel to make additional rooms available to late-comers.  But the number is  limited and will not  be available forever. If you have not yet made your room reservations, you are urged to make it happen by calling the hotel direct at 1-800-422-7474 between 9 and 3, Monday - Friday and ask for Shawn. If you have made reservations with the hotel but have not yet mailed your reunion registration form, you are strongly urged to do so without delay.  Only reunion registration guarantees you a spot at the   reunion.  Those planning to attend the reun- ion who have elected to stay with family or friends residing in the Tidewater area are forewarned that   tour and other event schedules will require precise adherence.  Local  traffic in the Tidewater area can be very heavy at times, particularly during the rush hours, and will be even more congested during this very high tourist time (Azalea Festi- val). Getting to and from may prove quite frustrating, even causing one to miss out on planned activities. A program will be mailed to all    attendees in early 2007 and will include most information on the  reunion, including a map, driving directions, emergency telephone numbers, and more.  Those flying into Norfolk should provide the planner with flight number, airline, and ETA.  Continuous shuttle trans- portation will be available.