Thursday, January 10, 2008

Thoughts on a World Gone Mad

I was at the Morton Arboretum yesterday and saw "a peace car." I call it a peace car because it was festooned with various peace insignia and bumper stickers that proclaimed the owner's various enthusiasms against war. There was one in particular that caught my eye as I walked past. Benjamin Franklin stared at me from the 20 inch height of the bumper and proclaimed, "THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A GOOD WAR OR A BAD PEACE."

Pithy. Memorable. Self-evident, or nearly so. Typical Ben statement. But I had to smile because in the context of all the other proclamations on the bumpers and windows, the owner was using this quote to declare their complete and total pacifism. Ironic, because Uncle Ben himself was a supporter of the war for independence. In other words, Ben's own pithiness was more nuanced and realistic than the bumpered-sloganeering of the car's owner.

Then I thought some more on the slogan itself. I think it is patently true, that "there has never been a good war." War is horrific. It's consequences and devastations even in "just war" situations is always catastrophic, at least in the short term, for those caught between the cross-hairs of conflict. But is it true that "there has never been a bad peace?" I think there are situations in which peace is bad.

The link below adds some fuel to that argument. I hope it causes you to think, grieve, and pray that wars will be few, short and limited and to hope that God in his mercy would redeem our folly.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2003/1231_The_Uncertainties_of_War_and_the_Hope_of_History/

3 comments:

Craver Vii said...

While I fidgeted at the dinner table, Momma told me to give peas a chance.

In the move Rush Hour with Kung Fu sensation Jackie Chan, he goes around singing, "War. Huh! What is it good for? Absolutely nuthin'!" Then solves all of his problems with knuckle sandwiches. It's just an action flic, but it struck me as funny because of the apparent inconsistency.

Halfmom, AKA, Susan said...

I think I hate all conflict, much less war. I so long for peace and community and a body (mine as well as the church's) that works in harmony!

And you're right - the grant deadline's are always like a sword hanging over me - there are three more coming up the end of this month and the beginning of next, GRHHH!

Llama Momma said...

I tagged you over at my blog...no pressure to participate unless you'd like to!