[Vision2020] 935 False Statements Made Before War

Sun Jan 27 14:57:31 PST 2008

Groupthink is truly a dangerous thing, stoked as it is by those with the loudest voices and stronger hands.  The gods of this world refuse to be quieted and bound, and the horror compounds when "religious" people provide them with amplifiers and weapons, believing they have somehow baptized them into The Cause when, in reality, they themselves have been conscripted into war against the very things God came to deliver us from.  

I wonder what would happen if those who follow the Prince of Peace -- what three or four billion people around the world call Jesus Christ -- in seeking peace, living in peace, working for peace, and expecting peace to be the grid through which our leaders make decisions about our world and our position in it.  I wonder how it is that we as Christian individuals give assent to the whole idea of "living at peace" -- we know it's good to be kind to the rude store clerk, and we applaud those who meet ugly words with humor or kindness -- and yet we seemingly have little concern that the corporate Body or the leaders of our government do the same.  I don't read in Scripture that the idea of reflection, prudence humility and love -- such a feminine, sentimental word! -- in response to provocation is simply for individuals, not for the body politic.  And it's a sinful world; those who don't revere this Prince of Peace probably won't be as determined to live peaceably as His disciples would, we assume with smug, self-satisfied judgment  -- and then we rush to join them.  

His disciples don't obey Jesus on this.  Not individually, not corporately, not "professionally" in the public square or privately at home.  Further, no other disciples dare rebuke them; the expectation that THIS particular emphasis of Christ's teachings actually be practiced seems quaint, archaic, or imprudent beyond what their Author seemingly could have known.  We who are often rightly condemned as lockstep fundamentalists practice a very peculiar form of theological liberalism when we not only dismiss these words of Christ, but expect our "Godly" leaders to do the same.  Worse even is the contempt we heap on those who are committed, because of Christ, to obeying him on this issue:  they seem so out of touch, so naive, so silly, so . . . un-American.  We who are referred to in Scripture as aliens and strangers, citizens of a heavenly place and mere sojourners on this one, have lain back and spread 'em for the whorish idolatry of blind nationalism, patriotism, and enthusiasm for power.  This is not to say that there is never a time to take up arms, but the reality of that ought to be what causes us to shrink back in horror at the idea of carelessly, mindlessly, responding in violence -- or encouraging our young men and women to.   Elders are supposed to be examples of honor and integrity; instead, we create situations that require killing and result in the same, and calling it "righteous" may well attract our young people to the cause -- just as it increases our own culpability.  If we really believed the words of Christ in the Gospels, we wouldn't think that medals on their chests in any way mitigate the millstones around our own necks.

I'm glad Libertarians are against the war, if somehow it made a difference, but to condemn war not because of its attendant evils but, instead, because it's an inefficient entanglement that violates isolationist, free-market principles is repugnant.  It's like condemning rape not because it violates women, but because it constitutes adultery under a strict and pointless interpretation of the Seventh Commandment instead.   A nation not at war because it doesn't give a collective damn is not a nation in any way "at peace," and yet worse is the bloodshed applauded by those who follow the One who shed His own blood in condemnation of the mindless carnage wrought in a fallen world.  I pray for a committed, united Christian war against violence, against poverty, against injustice everywhere.  That kind of "stirring up of the masses" would go such a long way toward eliminating the war cries and rallies from the pews that feed the beast of destruction and savagery.

Keely

Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:41:34 -0800
From: starbliss at gmail.com
To: kjajmix1 at msn.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] 935 False Statements Made Before War
CC: ophite at gmail.com; vision2020 at moscow.com

keely et. al.

The truth can hurt, so maybe there is some "harm," when the medicine of facts is a disquieting treatment.

We tried to head off the impending disasters of the Bush administration, with the J20 Coalition efforts in Seattle on Jan. 20, 2001, to protest the Bush administration, on Bush's inauguration day.  Around 5000 protested in Seattle, taking over downtown streets from sidewalk to sidewalk, in a protest/activism event that was an all day community effort, with a stage set up for speeches, theater and music, from many organizations.  

I put up flyers in the Moscow/Pullman and Spokane areas to advertise this event, and attended.  I expected protest related problems, and was prepared to be arrested.  But amazingly, the police who monitored the event were rather low key, and the city cooperated with the protest in allowing city streets to be closed to traffic.  Still, I expected someone to throw a rock through a window, or attack someone, after which all hell can break loose, after which the peaceful can get caught up in the ensuing crackdown.  But nothing like this happened.  

One inspiring moment was when we linked arms surrounding the entire Seattle Federal building, a large urban structure, chanting various activist slogans.  Cameras were firing left and right, some from the press, or for private use, but certainly some from the FBI. 

I look back on this event, and feel an sense of futility.  What good did it do?  The nation was so caught up in the emotion of events after 9/11 that reason, fact and compassion took a back seat to propaganda, revenge and fear.

Here's a press release on the J20 Coalition event held in Seattle on Jan. 20, 2001:

THOUSANDS EXPECTED AT SEATTLE INAUGURATION DAY
PROTESTS ON JANUARY 20TH

The King County Labor Council(membership 130,000) and
the MLK Celebration March Committee have endorsed
demonstrations in Seattle on January 20th to coincide

with national protests against the inauguration of
George W. Bush as U.S. President.

A group called the "January 20th Coalition" has called
for endorsements from labor unions, civil rights
groups, environmental groups, faith organizations and

women's groups.

The protests will begin on January 19th with a
candlelight vigil for those citizens whose votes were
not counted. This event will start at 5 PM at the
Courthouse at 5th and Madison in downtown Seattle.

On January 20th a demonstration is planned for
Westlake Center at 1 PM. Following this event, a march
"March For Democracy" will move to the Federal
Building at 3 PM.

In the evening, a forum will be held at the Labor

Temple (1st and Clay) with music and speakers
addressing the election results and complaints of
civil rights violations in Florida and other states.
Speakers will include King County Council member Larry
Gossett, KIRO radio talkshow host Mike Webb, and

attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union.
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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

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