I wonder about this day, about how much thanks is given for all that we, as individuals and as a people, have been given.
This is a day when families get together to share a meal that has its roots in the earliest days of our nation. I pray that the petty bickering that sometimes is part and parcel of the stress that the holiday season can bring on will not diminish the joy of this special day. May we treat one another with affection, care, empathy and understanding.
It is my profound hope that today will be, in the hearts of all, truly a day of thanks, something more than a day off work with football and too much food.
May God, regardless of the name by which we call Him, grant all of us a moment to remember those among us who will celebrate this day in a shelter, or a soup kitchen, or not at all.
May today be, for all of us, more than a pause before the frenzy of the retail season that will be upon us when the clock strikes midnight.
Let us take a few minutes some time today to reflect on and appreciate what we have, and not just the material things that so many of us enjoy.
What are these non-mmaterial things? I think it is up to each of us to make our own list, to reflect on it and give thanks to the Father of us all, each in his or her own way.
Have a peace filled Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
A Letter to the President
Dear Readers,
The letter below was sent to the White House via U.S. Postal mail on Saturday, Nevember 17 of this year. What this letter has to do with Catholicism and our contemporary culture will emerge over the course of future postiings.
1532 Westshire Lane
Richmond, VA 23238
November 17, 2012
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The following submitted as a fiscally responsible approach to prevent adding to the Federal deficit in the event of future military interventions that are authorized by the Congress or by Presidential fiat.
I am requesting that your administration introduce legislation during the next session of Congress that mandates that all future military interventions anywhere in the world, regardless of scale, projected duration or purpose, be funded on a pay-as-you-go basis by an income tax surcharge applicable to all taxpayers both individual and corporate. No individual or corporate tax payer will be exempt. Those currently paying no Federal income tax will be taxed at the surcharge rate. Ongoing actual expenditures related to any future conflict will be determined by the Congressional Budget Office. The surcharge will not be removed until the conflict is completely paid for.
This approach has several advantages:
• It is fiscally responsible.
• The more hawkish among us, regardless of the office they hold, will be less likely to advocate “sending in the troops” whenever it appears to them that American interests are at risk.
• The likelihood of discretionary wars and interventions will be reduced.
• An ethic of shared sacrifice will be imposed in that all Americans, not just military families, will become stakeholders in the hostilities.
Perhaps most important of all, as stakeholders all of our citizens will share in the moral responsibility for the consequences of the any military action. And as this approach is likely to extend the time the Congress will debate a war resolution, our citizens will have a greater opportunity to become informed as to the gravity of the issues involved, form their consciences as to the morality of the planned intervention and communicate with their Congressional delegation accordingly.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
James E. O’Connor
The letter below was sent to the White House via U.S. Postal mail on Saturday, Nevember 17 of this year. What this letter has to do with Catholicism and our contemporary culture will emerge over the course of future postiings.
1532 Westshire Lane
Richmond, VA 23238
November 17, 2012
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The following submitted as a fiscally responsible approach to prevent adding to the Federal deficit in the event of future military interventions that are authorized by the Congress or by Presidential fiat.
I am requesting that your administration introduce legislation during the next session of Congress that mandates that all future military interventions anywhere in the world, regardless of scale, projected duration or purpose, be funded on a pay-as-you-go basis by an income tax surcharge applicable to all taxpayers both individual and corporate. No individual or corporate tax payer will be exempt. Those currently paying no Federal income tax will be taxed at the surcharge rate. Ongoing actual expenditures related to any future conflict will be determined by the Congressional Budget Office. The surcharge will not be removed until the conflict is completely paid for.
This approach has several advantages:
• It is fiscally responsible.
• The more hawkish among us, regardless of the office they hold, will be less likely to advocate “sending in the troops” whenever it appears to them that American interests are at risk.
• The likelihood of discretionary wars and interventions will be reduced.
• An ethic of shared sacrifice will be imposed in that all Americans, not just military families, will become stakeholders in the hostilities.
Perhaps most important of all, as stakeholders all of our citizens will share in the moral responsibility for the consequences of the any military action. And as this approach is likely to extend the time the Congress will debate a war resolution, our citizens will have a greater opportunity to become informed as to the gravity of the issues involved, form their consciences as to the morality of the planned intervention and communicate with their Congressional delegation accordingly.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
James E. O’Connor
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