by James Glaser
November 17, 2004

That is the trouble with this country today, we have politicians who believe that winning a war can be glorious. They are still dazzled by the sight of a medal or ribbon on a military uniform and their chests puff up when the troops march by in a parade.

These men have no desire to participate personally in our wars nor do they want their own children to hear that call to arms, but they think the power and prestige of the United States is enhanced every time we vanquish another pitiful third world nation.

It isn't just those we elect in Washington who have this belief. Over half of the nation holds that same belief and their votes are looking for more of that glory.

America has been blessed by the fact that real war has not seen our shores in over a hundred years and so most of our electorate has no idea if war is glory or horror. Many will quote the bible as an excuse for going to war.

These people claim to be Christians, but they fail to read Christ's teachings about "Love for Enemies." Christ said, "You have heard that it is said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Jesus also said, "You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."

I know, I know we can all "cherry pick" the Bible to say what we want, but these are the words of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Christians are supposed to be followers of Christ, but many prefer the words they can find in the Old Testament and don't believe that Jesus brought us a new way to do things.

In the last election both candidates professed to be Christians, but I heard neither ever utter the word, Peace. War and more war was on the lips of both men as they asked God to bless our country.

America has a choice, we can continue to try and conquer the world with the sword or we can lead this world with our good example. We can decide that we really are a Christian Country and live and act like Jesus taught us to or we can try to impose our will on every other country.

All through history leaders have tried to take on the world, George Bush is just one of many. They all thought that they were in the right and every one of them lost in the end. Imperial Rome fell as did Charlemagne's Holy Roman Empire. The sun never set on the British Empire, but it does now and it took almost all of the west to do it, but we made Hitlers 1,000 year reign last only about 12 years.

George Bush has picked up that sword and will try to do what no other ruler has done. America will now face ever lasting war and we will see battles on our soil again.

We have a choice. We can follow Jesus Christ's teachings and have peace or we can follow another mad man and fight George Bush's "War on Terror" until we are defeated.