Iraq - War or Peace?

As reports come in about ISAS, the "Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant," the radical group that is attempting to take over Iraq, we hear renewed calls for war and renewed calls blaming the Bush administration, namely Dick Cheney for this situation. 

There are those who are quick to say that the US needs to go to war with this group to liberate Iraq and what was done in the Iraq war, and there are those who say we have no business in such a war.  

One side will place the blame on President Barak Obama. They say this happened under his watch and blame his foreign policy. Others place the blame on the Bush administration saying that we had no business in Iraq and that the war was based on a lie.

I am deeply disturbed by the rhetoric this nation is taking towards this situation, and all situations that involve wars in recent times. The "finger pointing" and "blaming" is the first step of this process that leads down a road, and unfortunately, once down this road, it is difficult to come back.

My political affiliations are open - I hold no party affiliations. As a Christian, I feel that I cannot hold loyalty to one party over another. Blind loyalty would only allow me to support both good and bad decisions. Therefore, when a politician makes a decision I feel is appropriate, I will give him or her credit. In the same way, if that same politician makes a decision I feel is inappropriate, I feel it is my job to do my part to call him or her out on it. True, my voice isn't always heard, but still, in a free nation, I refuse to be drawn into political partisanship. 

As cities in Iraq fall to the ISIS militia, I continually hear these calls for war or for ignoring the situation. Both calls are equally disturbing to me for a few reasons. First, we cannot just ignore the situation because there are innocent Iraqi lives at stake. There are Iraqis who have absolutely nothing to do with war, violence, or any such matter. They go about their days, trying to do the best they can, make the best lives for their families, and then such a tragedy happens.  Second, while no one can assume to know "what if" questions, I still assume that the lies that led to the Iraqi invasion by the US and allies ultimately led to this insurgency. It's no secret that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. Yes, Saddam Hussein was tyrannical. Yes, he was dictatorial. Yes, he was oppressive. But there were diplomatic ways to deal with him. He was contained. There was no threat of a "mushroom cloud." 

When we hear calls of war or complete ignoring of the facts on the ground, we are entered into a false dichotomy. War and Pacifism are two ways. War says we must fight with violence. Pacifism says we cannot be violent - and one very strong brand of pacifism says that the world will be more violent because we are pacifists - but that is what God wants from us - to expose the forces of evil.  There is, however a third way.  I believe it is fully in line with the teachings of Jesus - especially the Sermon on the Mount. 

We are called to be Peacemakers. We are not just called to be peace livers or peaceful. We are Peacemakers. Notice that this is an active stance.  But what does it mean? It's not clearly defined in the Sermon on the Mount. However, in the entire ministry of Jesus, Peacemaking is demonstrated. 

For each of us, how to be a peacemaker is different. We all have different talents and gifts. We can't all go to Iraq and negotiate or make contacts. In fact, for some of us, that may be detrimental to peace. There are people with whom I can make peace and people with whom I clash. That is part of being human. If I clash, that means it is for someone else to go in my place to make peace. We all have some peacemaking gift. We can write, we can paint, we can reach out to our neighbors, we can discuss, we can open our homes and our lives to new people and experiences, we can sing, we can advocate. These are just some ideas. In other words - I can't list every peacemaking opportunity. When you act, ask yourself, does it bring peace? 

None of us will have THE answer. But all of us will have part of the answer. The problems are caused by humans, and through human to human contact, we can begin to solve them. Yes, even in areas of war! Our governments have made ordinary citizens feel insignificant and useless. They are lying to us. They would not be in power if it weren't for us. Governments are not our protectors. We are their protectors. If we stopped paying taxes, government would cease to exist. So do not believe their lies. Please note I am NOT advocating a revolution. That is against peacemaking. I am advocating the fact that we have the power we have been told we don't have.

True, we most likely cannot negotiate with ISIS. But we can pressure our government to do so. We can tell our government that we want peace. We can elect peacemaking officials. We can run as peacemaking officials. 

Peace is not a sign of weakness. It is the ultimate sign of strength! To coexist with another is to show God's love. To destroy another is to destroy God's creation. Peace takes time. But Peace is not passive. It doesn't just happen. We have to make peace - not just expect it to happen. We all have a calling in this. Some of us are called locally, some of us are called globally, but all of us are called!