Yes, I am satisfied, more than satisfied, with where I am in life. Ironically, at the same time, I am increasingly frustrated by the global realities and injustices of the 21st century.

I have been extremely fortunate to have had wonderful parents, a loving family, and a wife who has shared her life, love and advice for some 42 years.

Professionally, as an Italian-American and the member of the first generation in my family to go to college, I have been equally blessed/fortunate.

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I still find a "Just War" approach valuable: defensive not offensive, proportional response, respect for-sanctity of civilians/non-combatants.

While war may be necessary, it should be the absolute last resort. The irony with regard to the invasion and occupation of Iraq is that President Bush, who sees himself as a devout Christian, has waged a war that the majority of mainstream religious leaders have not supported and see as a violation of Just War doctrine.

While religions have a transcendent and a dark side, the Just War doctrine is one example of religion's important even critical moral/ethical role which blunts a testosterone approach to settling international disputes.