Is Ann Coulter the right wing version of Hunter Thompson?
An anti-Thompson?
An alternate universe Thompson?
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
How are we different?
Some thoughts while watching the news and perusing the internet re: the Iraq war.
We are disgusted with videos posted by insurgents blowing up vehicles with roadside bombs. We get a rush, or at least feel good, watching planes blow up vehicles and buildings that contain insurgents. How are we different? I must repent.
We are disgusted when insurgents and other Iraqis rejoice over American dead bodies. We rejoice over the pictures of the most notable insurgent. How are we different. I must repent.
We have found the chemical weapons - and they are ours.
We went to war fearing Saddam's use of chemical weapons. We've used chemical weapons in Iraq - we have dropped a newer form of napalm called mk77, and white phosphorus, which the military has confirmed. Technically, WP not a chemical weapon when used against military targets but is a chemical weapon when used against civilians. Troops also use it as a highly effective smoke screen.
See wikipedia info.
White phosphorus can leave clothing untouched but burn away the skin. For pictures of what it can do, see Veterans Today. Pic 1, (WARNING: Very Graphic) I have chosen not to link to others, but felt people should have the opportunity to see what they cannot see on the news.
Again, I ask, how are we different?
As a Christian, I must speak out against the use of this weapon. I am not a pacifist, but how do we expect to win the hearts and minds of the people if we burn to death not only insurgents but innocents?
We talk about the number of the injured and the dead as if they were statistics. There are the heartfelt stories in hometown newspapers when a resident is killed. But the pictures I've seen of what the results of real violence looks like (not just of the weapons above), turn the stomach. The pictures on the news are tame.
When I see the suffering and the anger of the Iraqis on the news, I have to understand that they are seeing these results in person on a frequent basis. What would our reaction be if this happened on our home soil. We did get a taste of it, of course, on 9/11, but we are not having to deal with see bodies every day.
I can't help but wonder if George Bush and Dick Cheney had served in Vietnam with people who weren't able to avoid going, would they have been as eager to go to Iraq.
Even more I want to work for peace. It is part of my repentance. I hope this entry is a beginning.
We are disgusted with videos posted by insurgents blowing up vehicles with roadside bombs. We get a rush, or at least feel good, watching planes blow up vehicles and buildings that contain insurgents. How are we different? I must repent.
We are disgusted when insurgents and other Iraqis rejoice over American dead bodies. We rejoice over the pictures of the most notable insurgent. How are we different. I must repent.
We have found the chemical weapons - and they are ours.
We went to war fearing Saddam's use of chemical weapons. We've used chemical weapons in Iraq - we have dropped a newer form of napalm called mk77, and white phosphorus, which the military has confirmed. Technically, WP not a chemical weapon when used against military targets but is a chemical weapon when used against civilians. Troops also use it as a highly effective smoke screen.
See wikipedia info.
White phosphorus can leave clothing untouched but burn away the skin. For pictures of what it can do, see Veterans Today. Pic 1, (WARNING: Very Graphic) I have chosen not to link to others, but felt people should have the opportunity to see what they cannot see on the news.
Again, I ask, how are we different?
As a Christian, I must speak out against the use of this weapon. I am not a pacifist, but how do we expect to win the hearts and minds of the people if we burn to death not only insurgents but innocents?
We talk about the number of the injured and the dead as if they were statistics. There are the heartfelt stories in hometown newspapers when a resident is killed. But the pictures I've seen of what the results of real violence looks like (not just of the weapons above), turn the stomach. The pictures on the news are tame.
When I see the suffering and the anger of the Iraqis on the news, I have to understand that they are seeing these results in person on a frequent basis. What would our reaction be if this happened on our home soil. We did get a taste of it, of course, on 9/11, but we are not having to deal with see bodies every day.
I can't help but wonder if George Bush and Dick Cheney had served in Vietnam with people who weren't able to avoid going, would they have been as eager to go to Iraq.
Even more I want to work for peace. It is part of my repentance. I hope this entry is a beginning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)