love and war

My classes and I have spent the past few weeks talking about war, examining perspectives and morality. It has been draining, though it has also caused me to re-examine quite a bit about what I believe and why I believe it. That blog is too long and too private and too painful to write.

This part is not: During last night's class, we talked about what it means to kill another human. We talked about how the military trains and prepares soldiers to do so. We talked about how rarely there is any real public discussion of the moral complexities of killing another human being in military combat. As long as American soliders are shooting enemies, it is justifiable to commit what would be termed murder in polite society.

Over coffee this morning, I read this article about General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In his outgoing report to Congress in the midst of three struggling wars that directly affect the lives and purses of millions of people, he found time to reflect on the morality of homosexuality. He had quite a few comments on the appropriate way to love another human being, though he didn't seem terribly contemplative on whether it was moral to kill another person.

He said, "we should respect those who want to serve the nation but not through the law of the land, condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God's law." I agree entirely. I think "Thou shalt not kill" is a pretty good rule. How can we reform the military to abide by God's law about that?

The Post offers the following quote as well: "In March, the Chicago Tribune reported that Pace said in a wide-ranging interview: 'I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way.'" You're absolutely right, General Pace. War is a terrible policy. Let's outlaw it.

P.S. General Pace--you might wish to consider retiring to Iran. I hear it's a very free and open society that doesn't have a single homosexual.