Letters to the editor: 10/5/05
Protesting for peace
On Saturday, Sept. 24, I found myself at the Ellipse in Washington with an immense crowd numbering well over 100,000.
Christian signs, like my 'Blessed are the peacemakers. ? Jesus,' were present at this protest for peace, but not in the numbers one would have hoped. One group of hecklers held up a big sign saying, 'Trust in Jesus.'
In 2003, United Methodist, Catholic and other bishops joined to warn the President against unilateral war against Iraq. Now they have fallen strangely silent. As in the 1970s, it will be up to the people to keep up the pressure on isolated leaders to prevent the U.S. death toll from rising from the current nearly 2,000, and the Iraqi toll from the estimated nearly 30,000 civilians alone.
Let us support our troops by bringing them home to safety and service in domestic disasters. Let us serve our youth by instilling the Christian value that violence at home or abroad must be a last, not a first, resort.
Given the constant presence of military recruiters in the schools, let us inform students of nonviolent options for national service such as Americorps and Peace Corps.
Let us as congregations and communities provide young people with the academic and financial support to attend college or vocational school so that they need not perceive the military as their best option for achieving career goals. And let us continue to pray and work for peace.
R. F. Gillum
Christians must address polarization
Contrary to the feelings of two fellow United Methodists who wrote letters titled 'Anti-war stance is ill-informed' and 'Commentaries are one-sided' in the August UMConnection, I was proud to read the article by Jim Winkler speaking out against this 'horrible war' in Iraq.
I take issue with the two contrarian United Methodist writers who criticize Winkler as being ill-informed, naive, basing his thoughts on few facts and other more derogatory accusations. Have we United Methodists lost our spirit of brotherly love?
We as Christians have a very critical role in this country in that we must speak out against corruption and the abuse of power. Jim Winkler summarized it better, 'I cannot expect to know peace if war rides forward under my flag and with my consent.'
Obviously we Christians are highly polarized about this war. The two emotional attacks against Winkler have not influenced me. My sentiments won?t change their view. What role can the church play when we have such polarization?
In my younger days, we would ask each other, 'What would Jesus do?' Are both sides so biased that we can?t begin to understand each other?s views? This bitter gap can destroy our influence as Christians.
John Wagner
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