Yes Gina and thanks. The school system failed miserably when it attempted to train me to be obedient and worship the State. As much as I dislike the word "patriotism," I only consider "patriotism" if it exists at all, to be the effort to tear down any government, and never support it.
Wise, as always, Gary. Very difficult to be a person of conscience in this God-forsaken world. Patriotism is a good word for the school yard only. That is where we are trained to be obedient.
I can see why a young man would give in, who was drafted involuntarily and ordered to shoot someone (opposing soldier) he had never met by someone else (superior officer, President) he had also never met. The indoctrination of the young man, quite likely from his early years, and his obedience to "authority" would be almost too large for anyone to get over. It is understandable and I have compassion for anyone caught in that meat grinder. Kudos to you, Gary, for having the courage and moral fortitude to break the pattern.
What I have trouble with is those (both men and women) who voluntarily sign up, knowing that the possibility they will be told to kill is quite large, yet still commit themselves for whatever reason. See the world, get your education, serve your country, be a hero in the eyes of the girls back home, etc. All irrelevant. It is entirely possible that some actually want to shoot and kill others and I have no compassion at all for them, only pity.
The ones who really trip my trigger (no pun intended) are those who call themselves Christian and claim to live by the principle of "love your neighbor", but can be counted on to become as rabid about killing their neighbor as the next man. Where is the faith they claim to possess? What do they believe anyway? In reality, they have substituted the "authority" of the State for the Lordship of Jesus Christ, proclaiming their fealty to a man-made system which is built on lies and theft rather than the truth of the Gospel.
Do they even know what they are doing? Probably not, as most of the people in Christian churches today have never been taught what it means to be consistent with one's faith and belief, never thinking about the contradiction, and certainly never passing the understanding down to their sons and daughters. This makes me sad.
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“I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war.”
~ Albert Einstein–Interview with George Sylvester Viereck (January 1931)
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I pulled this quote from the article you linked to at the top here and I agree with Einstein. I have hope that someday, somehow, the vast majority of people or perhaps only a very vocal minority will refuse to go to war, bringing an end to the vicious, murderous cycle.
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." -- Isaiah 2:4b
Wow! So succinct and well put. BTW: Laurence M. Vance has written extensively on the topic of: "War, Christianity, and the State." As a believer, it saddens me to my core see many professing Christians who idolize the State and the military State, at that. :'( Yes, indeed, on the contrary (as you so poignantly referenced above), instead of war it SHOULD be: "swords into plowshares and...spears into pruninghooks." (Ref. Isaiah 2:4). Amen!
Wow!! So true and spot on!! I also loathe this false idea that those in the military are somehow heroes and more noble/honorable than the rest of us. And don’t get me started on all of the countless “military discounts” and perks around town – that only fuel this misguided favoritism. Ugh! Enough already!!
Yes Gina and thanks. The school system failed miserably when it attempted to train me to be obedient and worship the State. As much as I dislike the word "patriotism," I only consider "patriotism" if it exists at all, to be the effort to tear down any government, and never support it.
Wise, as always, Gary. Very difficult to be a person of conscience in this God-forsaken world. Patriotism is a good word for the school yard only. That is where we are trained to be obedient.
I can see why a young man would give in, who was drafted involuntarily and ordered to shoot someone (opposing soldier) he had never met by someone else (superior officer, President) he had also never met. The indoctrination of the young man, quite likely from his early years, and his obedience to "authority" would be almost too large for anyone to get over. It is understandable and I have compassion for anyone caught in that meat grinder. Kudos to you, Gary, for having the courage and moral fortitude to break the pattern.
What I have trouble with is those (both men and women) who voluntarily sign up, knowing that the possibility they will be told to kill is quite large, yet still commit themselves for whatever reason. See the world, get your education, serve your country, be a hero in the eyes of the girls back home, etc. All irrelevant. It is entirely possible that some actually want to shoot and kill others and I have no compassion at all for them, only pity.
The ones who really trip my trigger (no pun intended) are those who call themselves Christian and claim to live by the principle of "love your neighbor", but can be counted on to become as rabid about killing their neighbor as the next man. Where is the faith they claim to possess? What do they believe anyway? In reality, they have substituted the "authority" of the State for the Lordship of Jesus Christ, proclaiming their fealty to a man-made system which is built on lies and theft rather than the truth of the Gospel.
Do they even know what they are doing? Probably not, as most of the people in Christian churches today have never been taught what it means to be consistent with one's faith and belief, never thinking about the contradiction, and certainly never passing the understanding down to their sons and daughters. This makes me sad.
-------------------------------
“I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war.”
~ Albert Einstein–Interview with George Sylvester Viereck (January 1931)
-------------------------------
I pulled this quote from the article you linked to at the top here and I agree with Einstein. I have hope that someday, somehow, the vast majority of people or perhaps only a very vocal minority will refuse to go to war, bringing an end to the vicious, murderous cycle.
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." -- Isaiah 2:4b
Wow! So succinct and well put. BTW: Laurence M. Vance has written extensively on the topic of: "War, Christianity, and the State." As a believer, it saddens me to my core see many professing Christians who idolize the State and the military State, at that. :'( Yes, indeed, on the contrary (as you so poignantly referenced above), instead of war it SHOULD be: "swords into plowshares and...spears into pruninghooks." (Ref. Isaiah 2:4). Amen!
Thank you, G.
💔
Wow!! So true and spot on!! I also loathe this false idea that those in the military are somehow heroes and more noble/honorable than the rest of us. And don’t get me started on all of the countless “military discounts” and perks around town – that only fuel this misguided favoritism. Ugh! Enough already!!