War

I realize that I’m only 19 years old, and sometimes it probably seems ridiculous that I make some of the statements that I do, because how could I possibly have the knowledge or experience of one to talk about politics, spirituality, truth, or life? If your stance on my blog, in the past, has been one of skepticism or doubt, criticism or judgment, you might want to pass on reading this one, or perhaps you would like to pick a fight with me, I don’t know. But I am going to talk about war. Yeah, war.

 

First of all, I will say that I strongly believe God hates war. People often point to the Old Testament in saying what a just war is, in the manner that God used war, the amount of times He used war to accomplish His will, and such claims. Now, I think most of you might agree with this, that God hates war, and I think most of you will agree that war is an evil thing, and is only necessary because of the fall.

 

(I pause, briefly, because I realize we are in a battle against Satan, “Against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We are, as Paul says in Ephesians, in a war against Satan and his spiritual allies. Now, let us notice that we are not in a war against “flesh and blood,” as Paul states prior to the listing of what we actually are at war with.)

 

In Hosea, a beautiful book and story, God’s anger and love for Israel swings back and forth between punishment and redemption. In chapter 2, as God explains how He will restore Israel, He says, “I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and will make them lie down in safety.” God’s plan for restoration does not, at all, include war. I think you know this, dear reader.

 

One: I do not agree with the so-called “War on Terror” we are waging in Iraq. (I think most of us have (hopefully) reached this point.) What are we fighting?

 

Two: I do not agree with the war in Afghanistan. After convincing from my smart friend in DC, I have come to oppose this war also, a war which many people still support/like, or whatever. I think that the search for bin Laden is just provoking our enemies in the Middle East and simply multiplying the problem. Here is an article that talks about the surge of al-Qaeda related groups: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11173538 (It’s from NPR which rocks.)

 

Three: I am terrified, and would strongly oppose a war with or in Pakistan.

 

Four: I am flirting with pacifism.

 

Here are a few quotes from Letters from Abu Ghraib, by Josh Casteel:

 

“Freedom is not made by pipelines being bought in Afghanistan, nor by the major private corporations handling construction and oil distributions (Enron, Halliburton) who profit incredibly by the joint military venture/tax breaks set forth by the Bush Administration. Freedom is nor made behind closed doors with Saudi regimes (who espouse the very same Wahabist Sunni ideas as the terrorists) because we fear losing their input in the American economy (which is over 7%). My contention with George Bush is not one of believing him malevolent, but rather believing him unwise and guilty of maligning God’s freedom with mere political rhetoric.”

 

“Capital Hill has replaced the Vatican, and hospitals and political parties have replaced the Church as “new salvation,” granting “life” and “freedom” to those who follow their teaching. We don’t need the Eucharist, we have medicine. Democracy is now forced upon peoples like Christianity was during the Holy Roman Empire, in the “Christianizing” of civilization—now, we’re “Democratizing,” and instead of the Pope or an Emperor, we have the American President.”

 

“You can’t call [President Bush] “Pro-Life” . . . Campaigning in the name of Life and Family in circumstances such as these, to my mind, is simply unconscionable. And if I could sit down with the commander in chief right now, and talk things through, I too would simply say “shame on you, Mr. Bush.” How dare you take up the sword Peter was told to lay down, and use it in the name of a freedom which cannot be won by force . . . Where’s al-Qaeda? Where’s bin Laden? Where is the investigation into the nation from which all of the 9-11 hijackers were natural-born citizens (Saudi Arabia)?”

 

Point being: I am learning, and forming my opinions, and right now I strongly oppose every war we are in. I hate war. If you have ever been to a war-torn country, you hate war too. If you haven’t, go.

I was at Prairie Lights just a few nights ago and was hearing a guy read from his book, which is set in the Cold War and is basically a James bond knock-off. A host asked him questions, and at least four or five times he mentioned how cool it was to invent different ways of killing people. How cool it was. To invent ways of killing. This man, reading from his book, is a fully-grown man living in Iowa; he has an M.D. and is a fulltime doctor. I leaned back in my chair, searching for eyes as horrified as mine, but none came. Rather, instead of sickened eyes, I saw smiles, smirks and hungry grins. How cool, they thought. How cool.

What is with our obsession of violence?