Here are several of the main headlines from cnn.com this evening:

Killer needs sex change or he'll die, doc says
Woman jailed for hiding child groom
Glitch delays email for millions
Bettors buzzing over spelling bee odds
New batwoman is a lesbian
Maintenance leaves spacewalkers no golf time

Now, imagine that you are a citizen of an impoverished or war-torn country. The Sudan, Congo, Rwanda, Haiti, countless others -- heck, throw Palestine in there as well -- and you happen by your local internet cafe and glance at the CNN headlines and see these.

The United States is, I hope, known world-round as a Christian nation. Hopefully, some countries also see us as a country that fights for justice and equality. But look at the things we're concerned about at home.

Sex changes for convicted killers feeling the need to be Rita instead of Rick may be compassionate, yes, but it seems like it sort of pales in comparison to the plight of folks in the countries I mentioned above.

Of course, maybe it's better that we seem to have a continuing spate of women, apparently oftentimes role models and teachers, seducing young boys, all in the name of "true love". (I'm hoping that, now that I have written that, that bizarre Fualaau guy doesn't show up on my doorstep but I'll deal with it if he does.)

Maybe it's better we be known as a nation that worries about late emails in a world where many people have no means of communication.

Or, hey, let's turn kids into numbers on roulette wheeels and try to make money off of the ones who can spell well. A whole new meaning to "bookies" I guess.

Of course, we can also be a country that is concerned about the sexual preference of our COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS for crying out loud!

Or, we can worry when our astronauts have to repair the space station rather than try for the longest drive in history.

We wonder why the world hates us. But what kind of messages are we, as a culture, sending?

Let's hope that no one else was reading cnn.com this evening. Let's hope that, as a country, we can change our priorities ... fast.