Virtues

An Open Letter to Richard Blumenthal, AG of Connecticut

5/19/2010 – Thaddeus Wojcik -
US Army Veteran Patch
Dear Mr. Attorney General:

Like yourself, I am a non-combat veteran of the US Armed Forces. I served four years active duty in the United States Army. I served honorably as a “cold warrior” in a tactical intelligence unit near the East German Border in the FRG as an intelligence analyst and Russian translator.

I’ve not only listened to the news recently, I’ve focused on what you’ve said, the import (literal and colloquial) of the words, and listened to it in context. Though proud to state what I believe, at times forcefully, I am not prone to histrionics, and believe in giving the benefit of the doubt; I insist on the whole story, and I recognize that at times reasonable minds may differ.

Yet, while each of us fails in our own respective areas of human fallibility, your sins of semantic gilding require a bold, uneuphemized apology; I dare say, too, that your withdrawal from the election and your resignation from your current position would be the minimal steps sufficiently weighty to put substance behind the form of such an apology. more »

Are we Witnessing the Death of Modesty?

Catholic Online | by Jennifer Hartline | 2/11/2010

In continuing the discussion about a sexual counter-revolution and defeating the culture of death, let’s also confront the need for a fashion revolution.

Every time I walk through the mall I feel this stab of pain in my gut. It also happens in Target, Wal-Mart, the doctor’s office, the grocery store; it even happens in church. I don’t need medication for this pain. It’s not a disease – it’s grief. I’m mourning the death of modesty.

Last week I read the most perfect definition of modesty on the website for the Archdiocese of Washington. Msgr. Charles Pope wrote that “modesty is reverence for mystery.” I can’t imagine a better way to define it. And sadly, in our culture, the mystery is GONE. And with it has gone all reverence, dignity, and respect.

I’m just so sick of seeing women “on display” everywhere I go. It’s inescapable and it’s gotten trashy. I feel sorry for men today – at least the men who are attempting to be gentlemen. Men are visual creatures by design, and now the poor guys can hardly raise their eyes off their shoes without being confronted by half-naked women they’re then not supposed to look at. It’s more than inconsiderate; it’s irresponsible and disrespectful. more »