I really didn't know what to title this blog, but love or war seemed appropriate. This blog is a slightly altered response I sent to one of my good friends. She had e-mailed me with her opinions about the war in Iraq and asked the question "why do people hate so much?" There was more to the letter and I addressed all of the points. I felt a need to write this blog so that other people may know my feelings about the events happening around our country and the world.
     Nothing our government does in Iraq is going to make a bit of difference, especially since those people don't want to change. I don't see how killing "x" number of people of a particular group is going to do anything to change the minds of those left standing. In fact, killing the number of "terrorists" they already have has had the opposite effect. Sure, there may not be as much violence right now, but that doesn't mean the people are ready to give up - they're regrouping. What the US forgets is that Muslim extremists believe they'll have a higher place in Heaven if they die in such actions as suicide bombings - all in the name of Allah. These people will kill as many Americans as possible because we're infidels and don't follow Allah. The same goes for the other groups of Muslims they're killing. The extremists see these others as traitors against Allah. The sad part is that both sides are claiming to be fighting the just war, a war FOR God. The US won't admit they take this stance but many Christians will tell you just that. People will invoke the name of God (or Allah or whoever) just to get the people into their way of thinking. If you ask me, our politicians, patriots, and many Christians are only using the name of our Most Holy God as a political come-on. God isn't really God to them, but instead is a political pawn. What lower form of sacrilege can ever be thought of and utilized?
     Why do people keep slaughtering millions of other people all over the world? Anyone who is willing to pick up a gun in a war and kill someone they don't even know anything about is only doing so because they've been taught it's a matter of self-preservation. Our government can't even explain how this war is "protecting" the US. Have there been no more terrorists attacks because we've been keeping them on their "home turf"? No! They just haven't made any feasible plans yet they can carry out. If these people want to kill Americans on American soil no one is going to stop them. The government may have stopped a few attempts, but if these people are determined enough, the terrorists will accomplish another 9/11 or something even worse.
     Another thing the government can't predict is what will happen when we finally pull out of Iraq. My guess is it'll be just like many other countries, when we leave things go back to the "same old, same old". Many people, even some of my family members, think I'm wrong. Wait and see what happens - if we ever get out of there. This is just like Vietnam. We accomplished nothing there and this war will be the same. The only reason any American is backing this war is we were lied to about their role in 9/11.
     I think the people who are so full of hate feel absolutely nothing inside except hatred. Sure, they may love some people, but if anyone hates another group of people so much they're willing to go to war to eliminate that group they can't feel anything but hatred for that group. A group of soldiers see a woman coming toward them and tell her to stop. When she doesn't, they shoot her and the bomb she's carrying explodes. Do you think they feel guilt or sadness? No way! They feel proud and patriotic, slapping each other on the back then brag about it later. But was this woman truly their enemy? Think about it. In that culture, women are second class citizens, often treated worse than a stray dog. With that in mind, you'd know the woman had no choice. She was going to die in one of three ways: the men who told her to do it would kill her if she refused to co-operate, the soldiers would kill her if she got too close, or she would've died when the bomb exploded killing the soldiers in the process. I feel deep sorrow and compassion toward that woman. I believe most American soldiers wouldn't even give it a second thought.
     It's the same way here in this country with the hatred. Look at how people look at and speak about American born Muslims. They're all lumped into the same group as the terrorists of 9/11. Why? Because many people are taught from a young age to hate those people. Then there are people who were taught, like you and I were, to judge each person based on who they are as an individual and not the group to which they belong. The difference between them (those taught tolerance) and us is they're later pulled into the American way of thinking about those other groups - majority opinion rules and that's what we should also think. You and I (and many others) still hold onto what we were taught at a young age and then later the things we learned about what love is all about through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
     All we can do is hang on to what we were taught, even though people may hate us or think us unAmerican because we don't support this war or jump for joy when we hear that another country we consider an enemy has been attacked by a country we consider our ally. Even other Christians will hate us when we tell them that the reason we don't stand and cheer at patriotic rallies is because this country isn't our true home. The Bible tells us we must live in this world but we shouldn't become like the world. As far as I'm concerned, that means while I live in the US, vote in the elections, support the economy by spending my paycheck on goods and services, and everything else "normal" people do, it doesn't mean I have to jump on the patriotic bandwagon and think everything this country does is perfect, just, and done in the name of God.
     Answer these questions even though they may sound ridiculous. If cocaine was legalized, would you snort it because everyone else is doing it? If the government passed a law saying that each married couple could only have two children and any additional pregnancies must be terminated, would you have the required abortion? If the Bible was added to a list of books that have been considered illegal to own or read, would you throw your Bible on the bonfire? If you knew that you would be executed for confessing that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, would you deny being one of his followers when asked? I'm sure you're like me and answered "no" to all of these questions.
     The reason people like you and I get a sick feeling in our gut when we listen to the news and hear about the death toll in any war, we feel sorrow for the loss of life of gang members we don't even know shot down in the street, and we can't condone the vigilante justice dealt out by fellow citizens because they feel the legal system won't rule in their favor is because we've learned the message of Christ. Many people will dig out the Bible passages that support their particular stance, but I believe the message couldn't be any clearer. We're not of this world, our weapons aren't carnal, and it's God's job to judge whether a person should live or die. Our jobs as followers of Christ is to spread the gospel message - the "Great Commission" first given to the disciples and handed down to us through the generations.
     How can we tell someone about the saving grace of God if we hate them and are more convinced they should be killed? The hatred people feel toward another group means they don't even want to try to talk. It's more like shoot first and ask questions later. Do you really think someone is going to listen to you talk about the love of Christ after you just tried to kill them? Of course they won't and I know you agree. I would much rather die with the great message of love and compassion of Christ coming out of my mouth then to live with such raging hatred toward any group of people.
     While we must continue to live in this world, we'll have many times we feel physically ill because we can't see any love in the world. We'll have many sleepless nights praying because people continue to use God's name to justify all of the evil in the world. And most of all, we'll continue to look forward to the day Christ returns to reign among us, the day when all love will be perfected. The sad part of that day will be knowing there are people who miss out on that all encompassing love simply because someone decided their life had no value and they were killed before they ever had a chance to know there was a different way to live. All we can do is continue to love through the hate and reach out to everyone, regardless of who they are or the group to which they belong, with the message of salvation through Christ.
     Jesus is our hope and our salvation, not the opinions of other people about who we are or how unpatriotic we may be. When life here is over, Jesus is going to reach out to you, embrace you in his loving arms, and say to you "well done good and faithful servant".
     As for me ... I'll never turn my back on God. I did that at one point in my life and stayed away for too many years, but I'll never do it again. Wherever God will lead me, I will follow.