So Canadians, are you prepared to go to war? Canadian Christians, are you resigned to our military entering into another conflict? We're told that Prime Minister Harper will announce a combat mission to Iraq, and/or Syria, and/or...does anyone really know what we are up to? There will be no "boots on the ground," the phrase politicians and media adore. It means that there will be no soldiers deployed on the ground, although we have military advisors in Iraq already, and I'm assuming they are not suspended in the air. This engagement will include fighter jets and refueling aircraft to start, but we should all ask what "mission creep" might look like for Canada.
Yesterday it occurred to me that our current prime minister was enthusiastic about getting involved in Iraq in 2003, but then PM Jean Chretien resisted the pressure to enter into that tragic boondoggle. Here we are on the brink of engagement and I sure hope there is a meaningful and honest debate in parliament before we wander into war. I do believe that we must respond to the humanitarian crisis in the region and to the plight of persecuted minorities, including Christians. But who says this must include are military involvement?
Brian Zahnd, an American pastor and writer has dared to challenge the culture of war in his country. He exhorts his readers to follow Jesus as the Prince of Peace rather than Mars, the god of war. He admits that he wanted to wait until later in life to write A Farewell to Mars because he has a lot to lose in a nation that is seduced by its perceived role as the world's policeman. But his love for three grandchildren would not let him delay the prophetic message.
Are we prepared to meekly stand by while this decision is made on our behalf? Are wil willing to slouch toward Mars? What do you feel about military involvement --again-- in the Middle East?
1 comment:
I don't feel that you can "eliminate" terrorism - whether it's ISIS or any other group - by military intervention. It becomes a bit of a Whack A Mole game - you eliminate members of a terrorist group, but other ones crop up.
Having boots on the ground or air strikes...both will result in civilian casualties, which may result in more people taking up arms against the "infidels".
We are all sickened by the horrible beheadings carried out by ISIS. We should do all we can to help civilians who are being displaced or caught up in civil war, however another war in the Middle East is worrisome - and in the long run, probably not going to do anything to lessen terrorism.
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