Aug. 8, 2011 issue
Wars unspoken
By Earl Martin Harrisonburg, Va.Thank you for your inspiring coverage of the Mennonite Church USA convention at Pittsburgh. I marveled sadly that not once did I see mention of the wars the United States is fighting. Our country is engaged in the longest war in U.S. history, and Mennonites have contributed at least tens of millions of dollars to the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. War funding, troop deployment and casualties have increased dramatically in Afghanistan.
We like to think of ourselves as representing God’s call to peace. How can we avoid being anesthetized against the realities of these wars? How can we represent love for enemy in the midst of this counterproductive policy of killing? Is it time for more war-tax resistance in our church? Is the upcoming anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11 a time to declare that finally we must accept that war is not the answer?
Comments
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THE RECENT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND seemed to present a more somber and meaningful attitude from the pictures of countless white crosses spread across acres of military cemeteries in the US an abroad. Perhaps it was the realization that each of those white crosses represents a life no longer with us, a friend, relative, brother, sister, spouse, employee, and neighbor we will no longer see or know. Many of this generation have lived through a Pearl Harbor, a Blitzkrieg, Korean Police Action, Vietnam humiliation, and countless terrorists killings in a chilling climax of lives lost in the twin towers. Even the killing of the King of Terror Bin Laden only temporarily numbed the emptiness felt though out the land on Memorial Day. But remember, the big event, the big one, the nuclear option, is still growing. It can make the other catastrophes seem elementary. The recent farewell address by outgoing Secretary Gates helps to provide a prospective on the futility and frustration our citizens must feel about the endless life sacrifice and large and questionable expense of this exercise in spreading democracy for others. While our military machine has fought and lost battles, it is by no means “over”, and Secretary Gates gave us a parting shot across the bow that there is yet no light at the end of the tunnel, and our European “friends” are either unwilling or unable to join the quest for more freedom in the world. Nor is an emasculated United Nations organization of any comfort, let alone salvation.
All of this (if you don’t belief history repeates itself, read a bit of the Old Testament) causes one to wonder and perhaps believe, that the time has come to rein in our forces and checkbook, and to concentrate on a less lethal and destructive strategy. Dollars can be stolen from the rich to refill our coffers; only a day of resurrection can empty the graves of those lost in battle. What resources are left and recovered might well be used to shore up our own borders to include still friendly Canada and yes, even possibly.... GASP!.... the Americanization of Mexico.
Isolationist? Projectionist? Cowardly? Pragmatist? Selfish? Perhaps a bit of all of these, but how about an ironclad defense of our home land, sound foreign policy and superior intelligence?
As you ponder these options, I suggest one more, perhaps realistic, exercise: for a few moments focus your imagination of a friendly gathering of your best friends, neighbors and relatives. Picture them all together with their children; include those newly wed into your family or barely emergent from the toddler stage. Include all ages in between with those about to enter high school, trades, college or professions and busily engaged in the great American dream of life. Now its your turn. Carefully select and name each person you will mark to die in the next police action in a far away land; designate those who will return from such action to live out a life of crippling emotional and physical disability. Not a pleasant thought, but its the price we are paying, and it is our problem.Eldon A Janzen
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Earl, I appreciate your concern about the violence of current wars the US is involved with, but you ignore the violence on the streets of many cities of this once great country and the violence in the womb.
Are you unconcerned about the violence against the innocent, unborn babies who are killed in the womb by legalized terrorists using weapons of mass destruction? These innocent babies were placed on death row without the benefit of a jury trial before being taken to the local execution chamber to be put to death.
From people in MC USA, we here a lot about the injustice against illegal immigrants and the GLBT people but nothing about the injustice against the innocent unborn. Why is there such silence on this subject in MC USA?
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