Cry The Beloved Country

In the early years of Christianity pacifism reigned. Refusal to meet violence was scorned and suffering for the new 'Way', following Christ's example, was exalted. Martyrdom was man's highest calling. These actions were reinforced by a universal belief that Our Lord's second coming was imminent, so why not go now by an act believed to insure immediacy into God's life.This, despite Christ's counsel that "only the Father knows when the end will come"

As the Church spread rapidly, the leadership (orthodoxy), bishops, fathers,doctors etc. cautioned against the epidemic of martyrdom and developed a moral stance on resistance to violence. Culminating with Saint Augustine's treatises on justified defenses,the predominate thinking was citizens and states may morally use force after exhausting other appeals but only with sufficient force necessary to stop aggression. Such use must be proportional to the intended aggression.Thus the promulgation of a just war morality

How far the Church and Christian nations have strayed. Terms like "unconditional Surrender" ultimately lead to prolongation of conflict with greater death and destruction.Ultimately violence is not eradicated but only increased- evidence the bloodiest century since Christ's coming-the 21st..

The recent Israeli bombing and invasion of the Gaza fails glaringly-both on proportionality and force usage.Indiscriminate killing of citizens particularly women and children is particularly obscene. Just yesterday the TIMES showed a picture of four children side-by- side ,as if asleep, yet dead. Their angelic faces will remain with me for a long time to come. My mind flashed to my youngest grandson and I wept.

A failure to condemn these outrages in the strongest terms by Bush and "one president at a time" Obama is appalling. It is particularly outrageous when the instruments of death were supplied by the USA.

And why is this so?

Fear of offending the Jewish lobby that controls and has controlled our mid-east policy and the money it buys for over 50 years Over 700 citizens have been slaughtered yet only 7 Israelis have been killed--3 by their own fire.

No peace or hope will emerge from this gangsterism, only more killing and maiming.

America has lost its way both at home and abroad. Can it ever be redeemed?
One last thought. Those who construed my emails on Obama as racist (generally the undereducated) will now accuse me of anti semitism. Before doing so they might recall that Judaism is the cradle of Christianity. Our beloved Savior was a Jew. The Jews election by our God and their faithfulness to His promises culminated in Christ And for this we we are eternally grateful.

Let us hope and pray that our new president will gather up the strength and moral courage to right the ship of state and start that long process of making us all proud to be American once again.