flash (macromedia): I was considering purchasing Flash MX Professional 2004 and was wondering if a
person has to be a professional web designer to create flash websites. I know a
little about web design and was wondering if an inexperienced person can learn
how to use this program to make a decent flash site.

All professional web designers started out as inexperienced people and then
learnt how to do it .. hence becoming experienced.

There is more to web design than just learning how to use flash, of course,
and some of that is artistic and aesthetic abilities that cannot really be
learned (but can be improved).

Flash is also not the easiest of programs to master, and has quite a steep
learning curve.

Also, you certainly do not need to use flash animation to have a good web
site, or to be a good website designer. But you do need to know when it is
appropriate to use animation and when not etc etc.

I think the above should sufficiently non-answer your question :)
--
Jeckyl