Friends, the following letter was submitted to one of our local papers and they chose not to publish it in time for Thanksgiving, so I decided to share it here for further circulation–Happy Thanksgiving to all — Pastor Kathy

P.S. Some of you did receive it via email.

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Often, when people want to say something, they start out positively, and then use the connector, “but” to give their real message, which is usually negative, such as, “I like them, but…”  That having been said, I will begin this letter for Thanksgiving with the “but” part first.

• This year finds me not thankful for the mean tone that seems to be so much a part of the rhetoric and actions in our country, emanating from those in the highest places of power. 
• Understanding that our borders need to be controlled, I am not thankful for the cruel ways this is being accomplished.  We can control our borders and do it with compassion and the understanding that for the most part, people coming here are fleeing from dangerous situations.
• Additionally, I am not thankful for the attempted militarization of our larger cities and the fear being perpetrated by ICE agents attempting to “rid” our country of those apparently not wanted who have the “wrong” skin color, many of whom do the manual labor that we white folk don’t want to do.
• And on a religious note, as a Catholic Christian pastor in town, I am at first, thankful that our National Association of Catholic Bishops finally came out with a strong statement against the cruel actions against immigrants in our country, but I am not thankful for how long it took them to do so.  It seems that we shouldn’t have to beg our spiritual leaders to be prophets. 

   And finally, as if to turn the positive-negative way of sharing our opinions on their head, I will end on a positive note.  I am most, most thankful this year for many, who while disappointed and discouraged over the mean, cruel and selfish policies in play in our country, continue to hold hope in the inner goodness that we as humans are capable of. 

Pastor Kathy Redig, All Are One Catholic church