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| Hoosier United Methodist News |
December 2001 |
Personal Comment:
An unsentimental look at terrorism and justice
By Bradley E. Foster
Since the attacks of Sept. 11, I have seen many acts of shallow patriotism and bandwagon flag-waving. We have also heard people call for revenge or indiscriminate, blind retaliation. People are still shocked and angry. These things are sad facts of human nature and really should not surprise us or disturb us all that much.
I am disturbed, however, by the reactions of many people in the Christian community.
As a Christian myself, I am not offended by honest pacifism on the part of those so convicted, or by pleas that a military response not target civilians or noncombatants. What does offend me are the vague, naïve, simplistic ideas as to what constitutes an appropriate response to terrorist aggression.
There has been much attention given the notion that "We must find the root causes of terrorist's motivations," or "Correct the injustices that make people feel they have to lash out" "Fighting hate with compassion" is another one I hear a lot. Others want to "Arrest Bin Laden so he can stand trial in an American (or World) court." These notions are utterly foolish.
All these well-meaning folk, who fancy themselves tolerant and compassionate, are little more than ethnocentrists of the worst kind. How else could they assume such Eurocentric ideas of justice, peace and compassion apply universally to all cultures? Many old, traditional societies with vestiges of tribalism view compassion as weakness. Mercy to a defeated foe is well understood as a prerogative of the strong, but little more. Power, even brutality, is respected, which may account for some cultures' proclivities for tyranny. One group's brutality toward another may cause the oppressed to rise up and become, in turn, the oppressor. We Americans often mistake such groups for "Freedom Fighters," because we are viewing them in accordance to our prejudices. Likewise, it is silly to try Bin Laden and his ilk in a court that would apply European, Judeo-Christian standards of justice to his actions.
I think those who are opposed to a military response to the events of Sept. 11 are wrong. Yes, Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who would do us harm. The Old Testament, however, says very much about justice, and the New Testament says nothing to deny that evil actions have consequences. While it is sometimes appropriate to turn the other cheek, it is also acceptable to protect life and property, especially to prevent a greater evil. To allow evil to triumph in every instance by doing nothing is definitely a greater evil.
Yes, we must love our enemies, but we must also punish them at times. Does this mean we are morally superior? Certainly not. God often uses the wicked to punish the wicked. If you are a Christian in the military, be the best soldier you possibly can, but remember your faith and all its implications. If you are an honest pacifist, fine. But if you are an apologist for tyranny, an excuser of cruelty who thinks only of forgiveness but never of repentance, stay in your homes, turn off Oprah, and read more Kipling.
We are to be in the world, but not of it. That, shipmates, requires very good balance.
Bradley E. Foster is a lay member of Abundant Harvest UMC, Indianapolis
Last updated on 01/14/2004