Peace

Issues of war and peace have been on my mind a lot lately. To put it simply I am a pacifist, I mourn war whenever and where ever it happens. I was deeply saddened by President Obama's announcement that we will be escalating the war in Afghanistan . I don't want to see more young men and women put in harms way. It saddens me to see the collateral damage and the civilian casualties. Even the death of an enemy should never be celebrated.

I'm troubled by a justification for just war being given at the noble peace ceremony.

Many of my heros are nobel peace prize winners. When I think of the prize I think of those like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa and Gandhi, people who were committed to the cause of non violence. Don't get me wrong I deeply respect President Obama, but that does not I have to agree with him on every issue.

I think my faith calls me to stand against the use of force and violence as means to farther foreign policy. The thing is I understand how people can see the pacifist position as unrealistic, but I think it is important that someone is communicating with those in power the need to try to seek peaceful solutions in all things. I don't see it as a moral failing for others to see war as an acceptable option but that is just not my opinion. My understanding of my faith doesn't allow me to support war, but I would never make that claim that a person who supports war cannot be Christian.

It saddens me that the different sides of the war debate spend so much time making generalizations about each other. I seriously doubt that there are a large number of people out there who truly are happy to see war happen. Most people see war as regrettable so I don't buy into the rhetoric that sometimes comes out from fellow pacifists that equates supporting war with enjoying war.

Lastly I want to speak to a issue that is near and dear to my heart. I respectfully disagree which anyone who says that it is not possible to be a pacifist and support those in uniform. I have a number of family members and friends in the military and I think about them everyday. I think about our military women and men everyday, I pray for their safety and I respect the fact that they are willing to put their lives on the line for what they consider to be a just cause. I think that is possible to respect and disagree with people at the same time. Just because one persons path is not mine does not mean I have to demean it.

To those of you who might be members of the military who are reading this I understand you put yourself on the line everyday believing deeply that you are protecting the principle that I can without fear hold my beliefs as a pacifist, I truly thank you for that.