"JUST" war, or just "WAR"

Dr. Frank Stagg used to say that history has shown that every so-called "Just" war has turned out to be, just "War." Michael L. Westmoreland-White at Levellers, has an excellent critique of the Just War arguments for the current travesty in Iraq.

A Just War Case Against the Iraq War, p. 1
A Just War Case Against the Iraq War, p. 2

WWJD?

She's been on CNN and written up by The Christian Century. Now, Ava Lowery is the 16 year old peace activist from Alabama and author of the web site Peace Takes Courage is featured on Observations from the Sidelines.

Peace Takes Courage has some of the most moving audio-visual statements about the current war in Iraq that I have encountered. One which best expresses the contradictory understandings of the Gospel as applied to the war is "WWJD?" Watch it prayerfully.

"Buying the War"

Watch the Bill Moyers Journal report on "Buying the War," how Bush sold the war to the people.

"Buying the War"

Quote for the Day

"Real prayer begins when we are no longer aware we are praying at all."

-- Isaac of Nineveh

Not Horrified Enough

I found this great quote on the blog On The Homefront.

"People have not been horrified by war to a sufficient extent ... War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige as the warrior does today."
--John F. Kennedy

Perhaps rather than complain that the news media shows too much horrific footage on the news, we should complain that they don't show enough of the true horror that people endure in a war situation. In an age of "horror" and "reality" TV and movies, violent video games, and other things that have sanitized violence and numbed much of society to it, we need the shock effect of facing the full impact of war.

We, who oppose war and violence, must do a better job of honouring those who sacrifice for the cause of peace. If warriors can receive Purple Hearts, Silver and Bronze Medals and other awards, why shouldn't peace mongers receive Broken Rifles, Broken Hearts and have them presented on TV news shows and at public ceremonies. Where are the monuments to war resisters and political dissidents. (It's ironic how we praised dissidents in the Soviet Union as true patriots, but condemn those who question our misguiding leaders as unpatriotic.)

Quote for the Day

Found this quote on the SW Radio Africa web site.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

--Dr. Seuss, in The Lorax

Not In My Name

This song came out as the war in Iraq began. Perhaps even more people will join in singing it today as we know more of the futility and immorality of this war.

Listen to Garth Hewitt sing Not In My Name.

And join in singing.

"Files Not Found"

Last night MSNBC had a report on the "lost" documents of the Bush administration. It is disturbing how often information that could reveal the improper (illegal? immoral?) actions of our government conveniently get lost. When will we learn how we are being secretly governed?

Visit www.msnbc.com, go to "Countdown" and choose the video "More 'lost' documents." (Sorry, I'm unable to create a direct link to the video.)

Scripture Passage for the Day

Perhaps this passage bears upon yesterday's blog entry.

Do not strive to outdo the evildoers
or emulate those who do wrong.
For like grass they soon wither,
and fade like the green of spring.
Trust in the Lord and do good;
settle in the land and find safe pasture.
Depend upon the lord,
and he will grant you your heart's desire.
Commit your life to the Lord;
trust in him and he will act.

--Psalm 37:1-5
NEB

Income Tax and Computers

My computer went down for the last time while I was doing my income tax. I'd almost finished when it happened. Fortunately, I wasn't doing it at the last minute, but two weeks ago. I ordered a new computer and borrowed my son's to do my taxes. My computer arrived last week and I've been spending my "free" time getting all my programmes back on it. I'm now back in touch with the world.

I see that Dick Cheney earned more taxable income in just under a day than my wife and I did for the whole year. He probably did more damage to the USA and world peace than we did in the same time frames. There's got to be some significance to this. Hmm . . .