I was reading several news articles this morning relating to the news that Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi was "terminated (the Iraqi Prime Minister's language)“ overnight in an airstrike by U.S. military jets. What really struck me was that the Prime Minister was quoted as saying that, "This is a message for all those who embrace violence, killing and destruction to stop and to (retreat) before it’s too late.” I was really astonished by this statement and the context in which it was made. It was accompanied by another similar statement saying that "we" will "kill" anyone who attempts to follow in the path of Al-Zarqaqwi. Equally astonishing to me was a different article, concerned with the mounting "tension" in Iran, that quoted Elie Wiesel (a Nobel Peace Prize winner and holocaust survivor) as saying that with great sadness and regret he had to confess that military action might be "necessary" to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. I really don't want to say much beyond sharing the dismay that I feel whenever we as human beings find ourselves in these kinds of seemingly hopeless places. I guess I'm holding on to the hope that there really is another way (beyond violence, retribution, or "justice") to handle evil when it confronts us. I understand that the world is a "complex" place and that there are no easy or tidy solutions (and I'm not trying to present one). Still, I can't help but share a thought that has been hanging around in my head all week; it won't leave me alone:
"How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the uranium enrichment programs and WMD programs out of your country,' when all the time there is a huge nuclear arsenal and WMD programs in your own country? You hypocrite, first take the ICBM's and other WMD's out of your own country, and then you will see clearly to remove the WMD's from your brother's country."
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3 comments:
billy,
Very well put. I agree that the current situation is anything but uncomplicated, and yet sometimes there are seemingly simple things that can be said to shed light on the situation.
good word.
-s.o
billy,
i thought pres. bush's comments were interesting: thankfully, he did not have the "bring it on" bluster of previous statements. he admitted that this death would not bring an end to the violence or sectarian killings. it's good, i think, that he's being honest and realistic, but it seems to shoot the whole rational for the war on terror in the foot: if killing the bad guys doesn't end terrorism, what exactly is the point? i don't know the answer either. i admit i felt relief when i first heard of the death. but, i take no pleasure in that, and try to repent of such trust in violent power.
Billy,
Lately I have been reflecting on the two (very similiar) texts regarding hope and faith.
Romans 8:22+ "Hope that is seen is no hope at all."
and
Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.."
Let's let these texts marinate for a while, as we wait for the Kingdom of Heaven at hand. Even if we have a hard time seeing it.
and still the greatest of the these is love.
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