Them and us: The moral imperative for peace

You say here

"Though Jesus' teachings are clear, it is still the most indescribable of ironies how often violence has been committed by His so-called devotees. From the bloody Crusades ordered by the "warrior popes" to the modern day pre-emptive strike, too many people who condone violence claim allegiance to Jesus, when it's patently obvious that war is antithetical to all that is known of His beliefs. I personally consider "Thou Shall Not Kill" to be the words of almighty God."

Perhaps you should study the Crusades and learn who the bloody people really were. You might be surprised what "jihad" really means. Further the commandment of God: "Tho Shalt not kill" does not include war time killing - in the original Hebrew language in which God's commandments were first written, would more properly and correctly be translated "You shall not commit murder." Murder being defined as the unlawful taking of a Human life. God not only allowed for the LAWFUL taking of a human life but he also commanded that it be done for certain sins! During times of war it is not unlawful for one soldier to take the life of another soldier, there for there is NO MURDER being committed.

The Matthew Henry Commentary in part addresses this thusly"

"Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not do any thing hurtful or injurious to the health, ease, and life, of thy own body, or any other person’s unjustly.’’ This is one of the laws of nature, and was strongly enforced by the precepts given to Noah and his sons, Gen. 9:5, 6. It does not forbid killing in lawful war, or in our own necessary defence, nor the magistrate’s putting offenders to death, for those things tend to the preserving of life; but it forbids all malice and hatred to the person of any (for he that hateth his brother is a murderer ), and all personal revenge arising therefrom; also all rash anger upon sudden provocations, and hurt said or done, or aimed to be done, in passion: of this our Saviour expounds this commandment, Mt. 5:22"

While I do disagree with your stance on war in general and the Iraq war specifically, I recognize your right to express this view. But I and other Christians are not ignoring the Word of God and His commandments by supporting the need for us to do what ever it takes to stop the extremest terrorist whose only desire is to kill Americans and those who disagree with them. They are trying to impose by force there beliefs on us. We have not only th right but the obligation to strike back with all our might. We do not hate them but They are the enemy! They can not be reasoned with and therefore leave us no choice but to kill them before they kill us. Jesus' commandment to turn the other cheek was to the the individual human being and not the nations and peoples at war.

I reject any notion that preemptive strikes are wrong or immoral. Far better that we prevent the death of our own people than we react after our own people have been slaughtered. We all dream of a peaceful world where there are no wars. However, even Jesus said that there will be wars and rumors of wars till the day of His return. Niether peace nor war is one sided. We can not stay at home and mind our own business if others are planning on attacking and killing us. No matter how much we detest war it has always been with the human race and always will be until our Savior comes and ends it all. Till that day comes we have the right and duty to protect ourselves any way we need to.

We can agree on certain points, but I think you join Bush and his infamous legal team in being in the minority on your view of preemptive strikes.

Legally, the countries of the world, including all dominant world powers of the world have all agreed, in internationally recognized law, on what constitutes proper and improper invasions and Bush did not comply. Morally, I believe he would have to have iron clad, indisputable proof we were going to be invaded before he could bomb or enter a sovereign nation, whether he liked what they were doing or not. This is best exemplified by "the golden rule" - "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you". Otherwise, we are the oppressors, the sinners.

I acknowledge your right to say anthing you want here, but please allow me to point out, the logical argument you base your moral right to kill people violently assumes they have been proven to want to attack you. Unfortunately "mistakes were made" and a trip to your bookstore will show you what this administration's standard of proof was for choosing to rain death from above on Iraqis. It is hotly debated, but Bush's supporters say it was flimsy, unvetted evidence while his critics say it was complete fabrication. Bush himself will not subject himself to any questions on the issue at all, removing reporters who persist on the issue, or stonewalling them with the vagary "mistakes were made".

I hold human life, no matter whose, in a bit more esteem, whether it's 3,100 American GIs, 600,000 Iraqis, or over one million limbs blown off.

I therefore ask you - who told you we were being threatened by any "extremest terrorist whose only desire is to kill Americans" and where was this publicized. I remember Bernaysian fear campaigns, rhetoric, pre-war cheerleading rallies and lies (mobile weapons labs, aluminum tubes, nuclear ambitions) but no facts or evidence of any actual, specific proven current foreign plots to attack the U.S. until we were targeted by citizens of Britain, our staunchest ally.

I believe your government was trying to impose "there beliefs on us" far more then Middle Easterners, and were caught lying and paying themselves off in handsome style with money our grandkids will have to repay.

Whipping people up with beer-hall slogans like "They are the enemy! They can not be reasoned with and therefore leave us no choice but to kill them before they kill us" is a poor substitute for documented evidence of plots against us.

So you can choose to believe "Jesus' commandment to turn the other cheek was to the the individual human being and not the nations and peoples at war." I think that sounds more like the morality of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. I will choose to believe Jesus opposed war and bade us lessen violence whenever possible, and that rising above sin is more important then bloody retribution, that standing in judgment of others is God's task.

I'll agree with you that preemptive strikes are right and moral - but only when you are 100% sure you will be attacked, not when you are hunkerin' for a few years of war profiteering because the staff surrounding you is 100% composed of former defense industry contractors and recipients of their money.

So if you are convinced others are planning on attacking and killing us, please share with me and the others here the source of this information so we can assure it is incontrovertable, not trumped up propaganda, based on hard evidence and not salesmanship. Who seeks to attack us and who told you that? I hope your sources do not trace back to yellow journalists or the U.S. government because Bush has been repeatedly, embarrasingly proven not trustworthy.

As Americans, we should be strong and sure.

As Christians we should strive to be as sinless as possible.

As human beings, we should extend others the same consideration and dignity we would ourselves expect.