Recently the 4th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war passed. For the last 4 years Ive noted that day and reflected. My emotions have ranged from anger to deep sorrow as we see daily the toll of war on lives. On the PBS news show, "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" They frequently show tribute to fallen soldiers in combat by posting a photo, how old they were, and where they hailed from, all in silence. Three years ago when I first saw them close the newscast this way it choked me up. To see images of 18, 19, and 23 year old soldiers who had died at war and for what? Slowly my sorrow turned to anger as Jim would end is news cast with, "here in silence are 12 more". Now 4 years into the war I find my self numb to the faces as they flash across the screen. And how much more have I grown numb to Iraqi civilians who have been killed. We rarely see them. Much less view them as equally important and as dignified as any American. Reports now show that 59,405 Iraqi civilians have been killed throughout the war and that is the minimum. It could be as many as 65,ooo.
I don't desire to debate the war here on the blog but simply to reflect on the reality of what is taking place. As Americans we often forget the power we have in the world. We have been given so much by being born in the wealthiest empire in the history of the world. I feel the pressure of that responsibility. I feel a tug at my heart like something in my DNA telling me to stand up for the broken and poor in the world. And when 59,000 thousand innocent civilians have been killed in an unjust war something is grossly wrong.
Last week on the anniversary of the beginning of the war, Jim Wallis of Sojourners led a group of concerned Christians to March on the white house in all night vigil and protest of the war. In his speech before hand he said,
"By our deepest convictions about Christian standards and teaching, the war in Iraq was not just a well-intended mistake or only mismanaged. This war, from a Christian point of view, is morally wrong – and was from the very start. It cannot be justified with either the teaching of Jesus Christ or the criteria of St. Augustine’s just war. It simply doesn’t pass either test, and did not from its beginning. This war is not just an offense against the young Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice or the Iraqis who have paid such a horrible price. This war is not only an offense to the poor at home and around the world who have paid the price of misdirected resources and priorities – this war is also an offense against God.
And so we are here tonight, very simply and resolutely, to begin to end the war in Iraq – not by anger, though we are angry; not just by politics, though it will take political courage; but by faith, because we are people of faith.
This service and procession are not just another political protest, but an act of faith, an act of prayer, an act of non-violent witness. Politics led us into this war, and politics is unlikely to save us by itself. The American people have voted against the war in Iraq, but political proposals keep failing one after the other.
I believe it will take faith to end this war. It will take prayer to end it. It will take a mobilization of the faith community to end it – to change the political climate, to change the wind. It will take a revolution of love to end it, because this endless war in Iraq is based ultimately on fear, and Jesus says that only perfect love will cast out fear."
Following the march 222 people were arrested for acts of civil disobedience.
In the bible I remember reading once that Jesus said, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you". I kind of think he meant that.
