The American Spectator

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Special Report

Times are hard in Iraq and Afghanistan. The terrorists are seemingly unstoppable. They are killing our soldiers and their own people at a startling clip. Their cruelty and cunning are boundless. Even our soldiers, the best of the best, are deeply dismayed. Our President, who got us into this mess, well, I can just say I saw him a few days ago, and I can see the deep concern and sorrow on his face.

In this Christmas, Hanukah, and New Year's season, in this season in which believer and atheist hope for the best for the New Year, I would like to offer a new and old suggestion.

Let's take a day, possibly this Monday itself, the day of the Prince of Peace, to stop criticism, to stop torment of one another, and have a day of prayer that the Almighty send wisdom to George W. Bush and to Condoleezza Rice and to Nancy Pelosi and to Harry Reid and to Robert Gates and to the generals and leaders who guide the destinies of the men and women who offer up their lives for us.

For the non-believers among us, perhaps they can just meditate on the ways of peace. There is power there, too.

When I was lad, in the 1950s, postage stamps used to be canceled with the simple inscription, "Pray for Peace." It is time for that thought again. We are a nation undoubtedly blessed by Providence. Now it is time to beseech Providence to find a way back to peace in such a manner that we do not leave rivers of blood in our wake.

There is no position of power as mighty as on our knees before our maker, or for the atheist, in moments of deep contemplation of calm.

The darkest hours are just before dawn, and that dawn will come sooner if we put aside anger for a day and ask for what we Jews humbly call the greatest of all gifts, the gift of peace. Just for me, I know we cannot do it without help from our higher power, and I hope we'll all ask that power to show us the way to carve out a tunnel of hope from the mountain of despair. We have a whole year ahead of us to fight. Let's have one day for peace and maybe that day will lead to other, better days.

topics:
Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Iraq