Irked by Iraq

God Bless you and other like you! It is much harder to negotiate than to slug someone, but then look at the brainiac we have in the White House. For a Christian not to pray to God for peace just cements my belief in no religion! What a hypocritical thing to do.

There was a bumper sticker I wish I could remember exactly, but it basically challanged the Bush House idea of patriotism by stating that to be Patriotic is to question our government's job performance. (Not exact wording, just a cliff notes version.) Wish I could find you one and send it to ya! Keep the faith girl!

The only war that we should fight is the was against poverty, ignorance, hunger, disease, immorality and corrupt politics. Since that's the case, no legal war will ever be fought. I was tainted by the Viet Nam war. Nothing has ever affected me so strongly as a child. I saw our soldiers snubbed and abused by our government (I've known several) and I see the same thing happening again. Good article and keep up the effort.

One-pointedness in Love gets things done a lot cleaner and quicker. I don't bother with hating this or that. I simply keep up my work to bring home all the soldiers of every nation. I avoid focusing only on our kids, my air force son included - because to focus on one group only doesn't stop the scene. Everybody's got to leave the sandbox at once; all the little would-be kings have got to walk down the mountain at the same time; the Ref takes the ball out of play for everyone, not just one side....
I am
praying for the Highest Good for ALL SOULJERS EVERYWHERE. Kids - Time to come Home.

Thank you Ann. I applaud your outspokenness. And what kind of pastor would refuse to pray for peace? I find that frighteningly indicative of how right-wing politics has invaded the sanctuary.

M.M.-- An interim rector in an Episcopal parish who feared the wrath of his "heavily militarized" (his words, not mine) employers.

Carolion--If I can ever get to the point of spiritual development that allows me not to be angry over such things, I too, will simply pray for peace. Not there yet.

Forget the reason. Being stronger doesn't make you right. True patriotism is not blindly following your country, but having the courage of your convictions and perhaps calling your country to a higher standard.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

We play this game over and over - King on the Hill, as Carolion has said. We not only do it in weaponry, we do it in business, and in play. It isn't just Presidents/Kings/Emporers/Etc, it's a push vs shove and dog eat dog world we live in. Nowhere is it more evident than wealth vs poverty as Nancy has said.

It doesn't do any good to hate or be angry, those are the very emotions that always get us into war. We can kick and scream all we want, but at the end of the day the government, and I'm talkin collectively, controls the show. We'd probably all have heart attacks and die if we knew all that goes on within this wonderful system. I hear there are trainloads of shackles numbering 15 million just in case citizens rise up against the government. Yep, we all need to be sending positive energy out into the universe, a positive wave frequency asking for our rescue.

This is a very good war . . . to hate.

Hi Ann,

Nice to meet you.

I've never gotten over Vietnam, it hangs like a shadow, a pall over my life. Ronny Raygun scared the hell out of me with his hyperbole. I thought he'd find a war to fight. George Bush, in his 3rd debate with Al Gore, said he was going to take American to war, yet everyone seemed surprised when he did.

Barack Obama, in this first debate, said he'd like to take us to war with China.

America, Ann, is so much like a 3rd grade bully whose been kept back twice. War is easy; peace is terribly hard.

With the exposure of what Connie Rice called 'extraordinary rendition' (this is the practice of agents of the US government literally kidnapping people -- without process, due or otherwise -- and taking these people to another country to be tortured) I thought the American people, this Christian nation of ours, would be out in the street in a way we've not seen since Vietnam and Watergate.

I'm sure, Ann, you sat with me watching Colon Powell at the UN and could see, just like a blind man driving by fast could see, the dog and pony show Powell was putting on. The UN didn't buy it. In violation of the UN charter and world law, President Bush ordered the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

President Bush's action was no different from Saddam's action when Saddam invaded and occupied Kuwait. We can argue all day long, OK, Saddam evil, US good, but at the end of the day, the action is the same. One nation invading and occupying another.

I was sure, Ann, Americans would take to the street and decry this immoral and illegal action, which brought about the death of 100's of 1,000's Iraqis, directly and indirectly.

Ann, just when did our America die? When did the American dream become a nightmare?

Very good article. You didn't fluff it up or water it down... You told it how it is. You gave very personalized reasons for hating the war. Many of us have experienced the same things.... You're not alone.