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A New Year Resolution
“Mankind must put an end
to war or war will put an end to mankind.” –President John F. Kennedy
The greatest threat to our beloved State of Michigan, our nation, and the
world is the culture of violence humans have created and continue to
perpetuate. Whether in our homes, schools, churches, businesses, shopping
malls, streets, or our foreign policy, violence has become a prevalent model
used to effect a desired social change.
“It is no longer a choice, my friends, between violence and
nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence.” –The Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
As I sit and write this article in the background over the radio I hear the
news. Over and over again I hear reports about the assassination and funeral
of Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. What a tragedy, what a
shame. Leaders of nations are decrying the violent end of a great lady and
denouncing as inhuman and evil the acts of terrorists who caused her death.
However, I have not heard a single world leader accepting responsibility for
their complicity in the violence that caused her death.
I’m sure our nation’s leaders would refuse any personal responsibility for
causing the violence in our nation, the world, or Benazir Bhutto’s death.
Rather they say they are trying to end the violence in the world. But they
have chosen violence as the means to end violence thereby creating more
violence.
“Returning violence for violence
multiplies violence; adding a deeper darkness to a night already devoid of
stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate
cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” –The Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
History
shows us that the way of leadership becomes the way of the masses. Our
government uses violence in the form of war as the means to achieve and
maintain peace and effect social and governmental change, so violence
multiplies.
Dr.
King was correct in saying; violence cannot be ended by violence. Many great
leaders have come to that same realization and have proposed non-violence as
the solution to violence.
“Truth and non-violence are not
cloistered virtues but applicable as much in the forum and the legislatures
as in the market place.” –Mahatma
Gandhi
“Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on
and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable
part of our very being.” –Mahatma Gandhi
“Nonviolence is absolute
commitment to the way of love. Love is not emotional bash; it is not empty
sentimentalism. It is the active outpouring of one’s whole being into the
being of another.” –The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Two
millennia ago my Lord, Jesus the Christ, taught the same: “You
have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on
the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue
you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone
forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to
everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow
from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You
shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you,
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that
you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on
the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the
unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do
you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you
greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?
Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as
your heavenly Father is perfect.” –Matthew 5:38-48 NRSV
Jesus’ word was true then, it is true now, Gandhi knew that truth, Dr. King
knew that truth, people who confess, “Jesus is Lord,” profess that truth. So
then, what do we do? How are we to proceed? First, if you call Jesus, Lord,
you must live that confession.
Then I believe we all must be held accountable to non-violence in all
circumstances in our personal lives and hold our leaders accountable to
non-violent corporate action.
On the international level: The War on Terror. The name “war on terror”
contains part of the answer to its end. Terror is a tactic not a country or
a people. To win such a war our tactic must change. We must destroy the
source of terror’s power which is poverty, ignorance and hate.
Before the war in Iraq began St. John’s UCC together with our friends from
many faiths proclaimed: “To win the war on terror we must invest in
hospitals, schools, roads, and agriculture to eliminate the hopelessness
that breeds terrorist action, for if we act in warlike ways we promote the
terrorist cause.” We were shouted down by violent people who used lies to
mislead the people.
The happenings in the world have justified our warnings – ultimately truth
prevails. But, how do we now promote peace? First, we cam hold our leaders
accountable to their own words.
For example: “When our
commanders on the ground tell me that the Iraqi forces can defend their
freedom, our troops will come home with the honor they have earned.”
–President
Bush, Remarks On The War On Terror, Anchorage, AK, 11/14/05
“The
world watched in 2005 as the number of Iraqi units able to take the lead in
combat operations against the insurgency increased. There are now 120 Iraqi
army and special operations battalions conducting combat operations against
the enemy, 40 of which are assessed as being in the lead in defending Iraq
and protecting the progress –
process of democracy. A year ago, there were none.”
–Brigadier General C.D. Alston at
Special D.o.D. briefing 12/29/05
According to “our
commanders on the ground” we should have immediately redeployed out of Iraq
at least 40 of our battalions in December of 2005. Two years ago we missed a
golden opportunity to begin bringing our military home and show the world we
are people of our word, people of peace. It is not too late. It is never too
late to work for peace in a non-violent way.
It takes great courage to work for peace in a non-violent way, but it is
our only hope and now is the perfect time. “It is my firm belief that if
we adopt the right approach and make determined efforts, even in
circumstances where great hostility has come about over time, trust and
understanding can be restored. This is the approach I too have adopted with
regard to the Chinese authorities concerning the issue of Tibet. Responding
to violence with more violence is rarely appropriate. However, discussing
non-violence when things are going smoothly does not carry much weight. It
is precisely when things become really difficult, urgent, and critical that
we should think and act with non-violence.” –His Holiness the
Dali Lama
Things have certainly
“become really difficult, urgent and critical,” so, this year let’s resolve
that our country work for peace in a non-violent way. To God’s glory,
trusting that God will show us the way we are to work as peace makers.
Still In One Peace ~
pastor john
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