Love thy enemy is what Jesus said. You never hear people say that any more either really. Not the Bush type of Christians for sure...but maybe we can hear more of it shortly.
I just read this story via Reuters and this could become a groundswell if it spreads. One Capt. Peter Brown, who has been in Iraq and graduated from West Point, has just managed to get out of the military as a conscientious objector due to his Christian beliefs.
"In following Jesus' example, I could not have fired my weapon at another human being, even if he were shooting at me," said Brown, who plans to continue seminary classes he began by correspondence while in Iraq.
This is great news. Not only is a good philosophy getting some much needed publicity, but another soldier is out of harms way from Bush's Blunder, or what I like to call the Iraq Catastrophuck.
Of course, the Army didn't let him out the first time, he had to go to a court and rather than let the publicity from that come out, they quickly changed their minds and let him out, hopefully to be quiet about it.
During his Iraq deployment he applied for discharge as a conscientious objector but the request was denied, the NYCLU said. In July 2007 the NYCLU and the American Civil Liberties Union asked a federal court in Washington, D.C., to order the honorable discharge.
"Before the court acted, the Army reconsidered the issue, this time granting Brown's request," said the NYCLU, adding it would now withdraw the lawsuit.
Sometimes I get aggravated with the ACLU, but since our leaders don't appear to be listening to us, the ACLU is one of the few bright spots we have left, so please consider throwing some bucks their way if you can.
Please send this to all military people you know, especially Christians. What we are doing is not compatible with His teachings, and they need to be confronted with it so they can make the right choice instead of the easy choice. It is never easy, but the truth will set us all free, plus it feels better afterwards. Carthartic really.
Peace.