Is War Really so Bad if it Creates a Better World?
Let's look at 3 vantage points.

By Charles Honeywell

I. A better world?
By whose definition?
It depends upon whose world we are talking about. I hear the media say, “I love America, I love America’s democracy, and I love its freedom.” We must always counter some of the hype while realizing that America is indeed the premium country in the world in which to live offering the best constitution and affording the most freedom. There must be a harsh critique when government goes astray. Don’t forget, one main measure of democracy is the effectiveness of protest, not just protest. Most people are being misled that protesting is acceptable as long as it stays within specific boundaries – kept in the streets, under proper permits, harmless, and orderly. No, we are not advocating violence, but do you see the validity of our symbolic protests more and more clearly which had the system way out of control using riot shields, clubs, and guns all for a little disorderly smell? The current protestors are missing a major tool to communicate their views because, just like the unions, the only tactic they can think of is walking in an orderly manner and carrying signs. Maybe the war will correct some of the problems that have evolved as a result of bad corporate decisions being made by America and it’s exploitation of third world resources and workers. Maybe the top 5% of the world’s wealth are creating a system that will backlash and place the world on a more level playing field.

Don't forget, one main measure of democracy is the effectiveness of protest, not just protest.

I remember growing up in rural Michigan in the 40s with more primitive roots than most my age. I went to bed with a kerosene lantern because there was no electricity in our rural house. The water had to be pumped from a well 200 feet away. An outside toilet hole had to be dug every year and the outhouse moved. Weekly baths were taken in a portable galvanized tub with water heated on a wood burner and I was last to use the dirty water until my sister was born. It wasn’t democratic, just ranked chronologically. Our phone had a crank and our number was two longs and a short, the other 4 on our party line had different variations. When you were disciplined at school, guaranteed the lesson to be learned was reinforced on the home front. Calls to the teacher complaining “my boy wouldn’t do that” were nonexistent, let alone the threat of a lawsuit. We sat around a large radio and listened to the Lone Ranger for entertainment and in 1953 we finally got a TV. We were not allowed to watch Dragnet or other “sinful” shows for fear they just might taint our minds.

Well, things have certainly changed. We now have 5 telephone numbers- 3 for cell phones, one for our home phone, and one for the Internet access to our 3 computers. We also own four printers, two scanners, a fax machine, a copy machine, three TV’s on cable lines with accompanying VCR’s, CD players, tape recorders, 3 vehicles, 4 canoes, two trailers, 3 bikes, ad infinitum. What is the purpose for all of this? The sad part is that we are, in fact, already obsolete. Now, to keep up, we need digital everything - cameras, CD players, and other things I can’t pronounce or remember. Fire Wire, whatever that is, is but one. Has any of this created a better world?

The Soldier
(Thanks James Peterson)
Confessing Synod Note: How do you teach your children? What is the false logic, what is the issue shift?
The following passage is from a sermon by John Hagee:
I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands. He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war he stands though, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this...
I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it. I fought in the snow barefoot to give you freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains. I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues, because it might be bad for business. I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.
It’s the soldier not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the press. It’s the soldier not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech. It’s the soldier not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate. It’s the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!!!
“Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.”
Prayer Wheel: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf (Qatar) AND all over this world.
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Prayer is the very best one.

II. A reduction of the disparity between the rich and poor of the world.
In most neighborhoods in America, there are some that have more than others. In every city in the United States, there is affluence. Compared to most other countries, and many third world countries, Americans are ALL rich. Even in our poverty neighborhoods, fancy cars, large TVs, extravagant music systems, name brand athletic shoes, and designer clothes are sported. Nutrition, quality education, and decent jobs are severely lacking; however, but relative to many around the world who are starving and walk miles each day for the basics, America is a nation of greed, using the majority of the world’s resources. Unwittingly, Bush and the war hawks may solve our energy crisis, which feeds our SUVs and gas guzzling cars, our energy-consuming homes, our mega-lit sports arenas, and our high power industry. The energy use for our country is staggering. With all the faults of America, I sincerely do believe it is still the best country in the world. However, the leaders must be chastised; and unfortunately, while American radical groups cannot and do not have the power or organization to challenge any serious leader; many around the world are doing just that in a horrifying way. Eventually, all significant countries will have nuclear power, and then how will America control all of them?

It is both unfortunate and horrifying that a war or ongoing attack by those around the world against exploitation will create a scenario that will bring back most people’s level of living to the level of so many poor inner city Americans. If Antrax or small pox were to hit hard, can you imagine the effect on jobs, the economy, and control of the populace? We, as Americans, need not look any further than our own history. It was we who defeated the Indian population through germ warfare of small pox and European diseases because they had no medical resources to counterattack.

Eventually, all significant countries will have nuclear power, and then how will America control all of them?

The U.S. may indeed be tinkering with world peace so that the top 5% of those in control of the world’s resources can remain there. What they don’t realize is that in the end it won’t matter. It’s like watching a rich man enter a fancy restaurant consuming his $300 dinner complete with a $100 liquor bill; while at the same time, a poor family eats at McDonalds. In 6 hours, regardless of where it originally came from, is of equal value. Then we, as consumers, spend millions to haul it away and treat it before it is dumped back into our rivers and air. There is something philosophically wrong here when our leaders miss the mark in their arrogance, and try to control the whole world just to maintain our level of greed and consumption. As Christians, we should be able to recognize the hypocrisy that exists “in loving your neighbor as yourself” and the belief that we as a nation deserve more than the rest of the world. Ultimately, we know that the imbalance created by evil will not prevail in God’s Kingdom.

III. A spread of so called “democracy around the world.
Bush states that he is worried about providing Democracy in Iraq. My suggestion for reconstruction is as follows: First, Bush should put in place a hand-picked high court. Then for elections it wouldn’t hurt if they all have PACs from the oil industrialists and a good “open” media with our largest industrial advertisers. (That way, the people of Iraq will be given a good democratic view of the world and not Sadaam’s controlled media.) Then, the common people can see all sides of the issue, have controversial heated open debate, and the leaders can railroad over the majority interest anyway – all in the open of course. Good sounding open democracy and elections.

In “liberated” countries, the police will be instructed to not hang or mutilate their minorities in the ghetto areas like American’s south years ago, but see that those neighborhoods all have good laundering drug networks that shoot each other over greed. Police won’t hang anyone; they will just shoot them – especially if unarmed (in self-defense of course). When suspects are captured, if they are not killed by compression suffocation, they can be jailed under suspicion of terrorism. (In Pittsburgh, there has been a continued chain of black deaths due to police brutality. It isn’t ending and it is getting worse. The NAACP keeps “speaking out” against these atrocities, but with no effective action.) Protests that take a position without major disruption make a mockery out of real democracy.

A building along the River Liffey, Dublin Ireland

WHAT TO DO:

First, don’t look to millionaire sports heroes or movie stars for leadership. Sure some stars are risking their careers and may be blackballed for their anti-war efforts. That’s admirable and we can respect them for their visibility. But the majority in entertainment are more concerned about fitting into the system. Look at the symbolism that you will see at the Oscars. Will protesters be honored or chided? All I’ve heard on TV entertainment lately is whether the war will reduce cleavage at the Oscars. Imagine, right wing Christian war hawks can kill two birds with one stone – spoil the fun of the Hollywood Oscar war protestors and give our kids a more moral view of the stars in less revealing designer clothes with less expensive jewelry. (This all helps salve guilt over the war they say.) At the same time warmongers can feel increasingly “moral” about the war - less boobs, more bombs - a new “Christian” slogan!

At the same time warmongers can feel increasingly “moral” about the war - less boobs, more bombs -
a new “Christian” slogan!

Meanwhile, as both sides claim God to be on their side (just like our sports teams mock God with their end zone prayers and crossing of themselves in the batter’s box), don’t just simply watch TV. Keep your focus on your own individual ministries and take care of those who need you in your own locality. This is not the same advice that we hear from our political leaders who say, “Do the same” meaning spend, spend, spend and travel, travel, travel to keep the economy going. Come to think of it, maybe I need to downsize and get Broadband or Comcast for all my TV’s, phones, computers, faxes, and have one smaller bill instead of 8 larger ones for my home and Confessing Synod office needs. Is this really the best Americans can do? Can TV survive without cleavage and violence? If you feel called, take part in those larger protests but try to add some new non-violent tactics. What’s at stake? The U.S. may eventually win and control the world for another 10 years, leaving the upcoming disorder to our children.

Keep your focus on your own individual ministries and take care of those who need you in your own locality.

Study your history about empires.

Charles Honeywell
Mission Developer