Who knew that such large percentages of American Christians, Jews, and atheists believe targeting and killing civilians is sometimes justified? Who knew Muslim Americans were so strongly opposed?
The disparity between Muslims and Christians is astonishing when you consider the fact that the Prophet Muhammad was a military general, while Jesus espoused turning the other cheek. A solid majority of Christian Americans appear unconscious of the contradiction between their beliefs about violence, versus the word of the Gospels:
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5, King James Version)"...Oh, and I forgot to say unto you, target and kill your enemies. Including civilians sometimes." ~ Jesus
I am shocked that so few Christians and Jews think killing Osama was justified. And did you know that many devil-may-care individuals are okay with targeting American civilian Anwar Al Awlaki with drone attacks?
ReplyDeleteFrom Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore: “What never?” “Well hardly ever.”
Was Osama bin Laden a civilian, or a combatant?
ReplyDeleteIt's according to your perspective. That’s why I included Anwar Al Awlaki. I don’t know about you, but like Obama, I’m okay with killing him too.
ReplyDeleteAwlaki is an American *citizen*, but is he a *civilian*? I guess it is a grey area.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the question, I was thinking of the targeting and killing of civilians as in the bombing of cities that occurred on both sides during WWII.
One of the things I found interesting is that the survey said ‘purposely targeting civilians.’ It did not talk about ‘innocent’ civilians or collateral damage. Another was that it asks if that type of ‘violence’ is justified (a judgmental and emotional word), rather than a neutral construct like ‘action.’
ReplyDeleteMore to your question, for Germany and Japan in WWII I believe that their aims were evil. Therefore anything done to further those aims was evil as well – the question is merely to what degree. I know this is simplistic, but I can’t get beyond seem to get beyond that.
I have not delved deeply into the trying to fathom what actions during the war may have been unjustified by the Allies. There are always alternatives to actions actually taken. Clearly there was an imperative to win and to limit Allied casualties. Much of the firebombing of German cities, maybe even all, could be said to have a legitimate, if sometimes indirect, military dimension to it. I would say the same for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
On the other matter, yes, I believe Anwar Al Awlaki is a civilian. But definitions themselves are often little more than a self-serving balm. For instance since Israeli children may grow up to be soldiers, in some circles school buses are considered legitimate military targets. Come to think of it, I wonder how members of Hezbollah and Hamas would have answered the survey.
Hamas would undoubtedly concur with most Americans (excluding American Muslims) that violence targeting civilians is sometimes justified. Hence my dismay.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm
ReplyDeleteJust saw this statistic
Very disappointing indeed ...
Maybe more disappointing is that we are not all as surprised or appalled as one would expect for followers of a crucified Lord.