Essay: Militarism in Christian Context, Past and Present

Militarism in Christian Context Past and Present

EK Knappenberger, for Dr. D.F. Evans; October 2016

Posted to WarIsACrime.org July 2017

 

“War is a racket, where the few profit and the many pay.”[1]

“War is a force that gives us meaning.”[2]

“War is a lie.”[3]

 “War is hell.”[4]

 

If war is hell, then why do Christians participate in it?  There is a disconnect at the heart of the Christian community as it relates to the hell of war.[5]  Not only is the violence of war categorically unchristian, as we will briefly demonstrate below, but beyond even that, the attitude of militarism read more

Observations in Iran

Iran is not a typical tourist destination for most North Americans. It is a mainly Muslim country, and to hear United States President Donald Trump and the various talking heads surrounding him describe Islam, all Muslims are terrorists.

I am not much influenced by the rantings of Mr. Trump and his ignorant, paranoid minions. So when invited to speak at the conference, ‘United States, Human Rights and Discourse of Domination’, sponsored by the  University of Tehran, in cooperation with Iranian read more

Nuclear Waste on Highways: Courting Catastrophe

By Ruth Thomas

The federal government has secretly been working on a plan to transport highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, to the Savannah River Site in Aiken, SC — a distance of over 1,100 miles.  A series of 250 truckloads are planned by the Department of Energy (DOE).  Interstate 85 is one of the main routes.

Based on published data of the US Environmental Protection Agency, a few ounces of this liquid could destroy a whole city water supply.

These liquid shipments read more

Military Recruiting and How to Confront it

This year the Army’s goal is to recruit 80,000 active duty and reserve soldiers. The Navy is trying to sign up 42,000; the Air Force is looking for 27,000, and the Marines hope to bring on 38,000. That comes to 187,000.  The Army National Guard will also attempt to lure 40,000.

These soldiers are needed to maintain the status quo for a year, aside from a last-minute increase of 6,000 additional Army soldiers added by President Obama.

The Pentagon is attempting to recruit somewhere around read more

Corbyn Defied Media Rules by Linking UK Wars and Military Sales to Terrorism

This article by DAVE LINDORFF was published first by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) at FAIR.org

When a terrorist killed 22 at a May 22 concert filled with young people in England’s Manchester, most journalists—especially US ones—assumed it would help the struggling Conservative Party and its standard-bearer, Prime Minister Theresa May, win the snap election she had called for June 8, just 17 days ahead.

That is, after all, the conventional wisdom: In times of crisis, like a terror read more

Tomgram: Danny Sjursen, Fighting the War You Know (Even If It Won’t Work)

This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

In America’s Afghanistan, it’s all history — the future as well as the past, what’s going to happen, as well as what’s happened in these last nearly 16 years of war. You’ve heard it all before: there were the various “surges” (though once upon a time sold as paths to victory, not simply to break a “stalemate“); read more

The Fourth of July Like You’ve Never Seen It Before!

This year, sit back with your favorite beverage or herb, prop up your feet and open your head to consider Independence Day in a whole new way.

A historically critical article about the American Revolution would typically discuss how the democratic promises of the Declaration were left hanging at war’s end, followed by a decidedly undemocratic constitution six years later.

Examples of that would include abandoning ideals stated in the Declaration like: “all men (sic) are created equal” and read more