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We
Americans talk of 'Peace on earth,' but our actions speak louder
than words
By Bruce Mulkey©
12-14-03: Now we are in the season of Christmas. Celebrations are
being held, carols are being sung and prayers are being prayed
(not to mention consumers going amok and Atkins dieters falling
off the wagon). And in this season many of us honor the birth of
Jesus of Nazareth.
I have heard those who proclaim that this is a nation founded on
Christian principles. I have heard President Bush assert that
Jesus is his favorite philosopher. But when we look at where our  government,
in our names, puts its attention and a massive portion of its
resources-implementing a strategy of preemptively striking our
theoretical foes, maintaining a formidable fighting force to
assert our military pre-eminence around the world and engaging in
an endless war against terrorism-can we really claim to uphold the
tenets of the Prince of Peace?
Some have said that you can determine your priorities by looking
at your checkbook ledger. So let's look at a few of the stubs in
our nation's 2002 checkbook courtesy of the Office of Management
and Budget.
. Military spending: $319 billion
. Education: $77 billion
. Transportation: $55 billion
. Environment: $27 billion
. HIV/AIDS: $14.7 billion
. Peace Corps: $277 million
It's projected that total military spending from 2000 through the
end of 2008 will amount to $3.2 trillion. A trillion here, a
trillion there. Pretty soon we're talking about real money, even
by government standards.
As much as we talk of "peace on earth," our actions make
our words ring hollow.
If we were really serious about creating peace in our time,
wouldn't we be putting a more substantial portion of our resources
toward that end? As long as we put our focus on kicking our real
or imagined adversaries' butts rather than reconciliation, on
glorifying young warriors rather than honoring youth who choose a
path of peace, we will continue to create death and destruction .
. . for others and for ourselves. Let's face it; we've got a lot
of guns and soldiers. We're going to wind up shooting somebody
eventually. And as long as we keep making the same kinds of
choices, we're going to keep getting the same results. To expect
otherwise is insanity.
President Bush and his administration ignored a huge opportunity
after 9/11. Immediately following this horrendous blow, the people
of the world were with us in mind and spirit. If we had pursued
our higher calling and sought understanding and peace with the
peoples of the world, while going after the perpetrators
through legal means, we would have won loyal allies and advocates
for our cause. Instead, however, the Bush administration chose to
rant and rave and unleash the weaponry we'd stockpiled, as if
using our weapons of mass destruction would somehow bring us
peace, as if war could stop terrorism when it's obvious that war
itself is an act of terrorism. And now men and women of the U.S.
are dying on the battlefields and Iraqis and Afghanis are being
mutilated and slaughtered in their own land.
Moreover, by our belligerent actions, we have created millions of
zealous enemies in the Muslim world and spawned thousands of
fervent new recruits for the hostile groups that wish us harm. And
while we might imagine we're making ourselves more secure by
lashing out at them, our vengeful actions have had the opposite
effect, considerably increasing the likelihood that we'll be
attacked again-overseas and here within our borders.
Tit for tat. Got you last. Just look where such a policy has
gotten the Palestinians and the Israelis during the past 50 or so
years, with no end in sight. Jesus said, "Those who live by
the sword, will die by the sword." This dictum spares none of
the sword wielders, not even us Americans. Jesus also said,
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
Maybe mercy would be a commendable commitment for us all as we
celebrate Christ's birthday this year.
All contents copyrighted Bruce R. Mulkey, Asheville, North
Carolina. All rights reserved.
To subscribe to Bruce's e-newsletter, Walking My Talk, visit his
website at www.brucemulkey.com
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