Saint Martin's Cloak

It was once said that only President Nixon could go to China. Perhaps only President Obama could accept the Nobel Peace Prize by defending the just use of force. Among the President's remarks: For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism -- it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason. I raise this point, I begin with this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence about military action today, no matter what the cause. And at times, this is joined by a reflexive suspicion of America, the world's sole military superpower. But the world must remember that it was not simply international institutions -- not just treaties and declarations -- that brought stability to a post-World War II world. ...

A prayer at the lighting of the community holiday lights. God of light and life, In the darkness of winter, you bring cheer to our hearts with the lighting of these trees. May your light shine within our hearts throughout these days, and fill us, I pray, with the hope of peace on Earth and good will to all. Let your blessing rest upon each one standing guard here on Freedom's Frontier, and bring comfort to all of those who are separated this holiday season from those they love. I also pray that your Spirit might strengthen and protect our brothers and sisters in arms who tonight are deployed to even more lonely and dangerous places throughout the world, sacrificing so much to achieve a measure of that peace we seek. Sustain them and their families through every difficult day. Make us all, I pray, instruments your more perfect peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where th...