Pray for Gaza
Tanks running over civilian corpses, including the body of a dead infant left to decompose for days; children starving next to their dead mothers as soldiers stand nearby; shelling houses full of civilians, shelling UN schools--and largely a show for Israeli and American electoral politics.
Israel is not the only state that takes such savage measures--and it is worth remembering the state of Israel acts with the full support of the freely elected government of the United States, which abstained from a UN resolution calling for a cease-fire, and whose House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting the invasion.
Israel is not at all alone: recall the recent admission that the US slaughtered thousands of South Korean civilians, shoving them into mass graves, during the Korean War--at least 100, 000 between the allies. At least 100,000--in Korea. When do you think we will find out from our government how many civilians the United States and her allies slaughtered in Iraq? It was a deliberate policy of the United States to shoot civilian refugees in Korea-and I expect it is a policy of Israel to do what it is doing now to the civilians of Gaza. That is just how states work.
Where do you think Jesus is in all this? (It is worthwhile remembering that question--inter alia--when the Constantinian settlement is brought up) I have no doubt Jesus is with the children left to starve next to the rotting corpse of their mother.
Imagine, if you can, the moment for those children when the Red Cross workers walked in. And then imagine those children for whom there will be no workers, no help.
Let us consider slipping in a few words of intercession for them.
posted by The Anglican Scotist @ 4:56 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
It appears unquestionably clear that the US did not do all it could to stop the killings and was at least to some degree compliciut in them. Is it technically accurate to say "the US slaughtered..."? (My question does not mean that the US doesn't bear moral responsibility even if US troops didn't pull triggers.)
OK; I think there is litle room for ambiguity or exoneration here. The US is directly responsible, in the sense of pulling triggers.
First a bit of technical info:
I take the truth of "The US slaughtered X" for some X to imply that some legitimate official, in his or her normal capacity, acted to bring about the unjust death of X.
That is, bringing about someone's death if that someone deserved to dies is NOT slaughtering him or her; bringing about a death in some extraordinary moment of intoxication or mental illness would not count; acting as a rogue outside the official channels of authority would not count.
In precisely my sense, which is a sense Narrower than that of merely Carrying Moral Responsibility, the US slaughtered innocent South Koreans.
Evidence? Among the links in the post, please note:
(1)
""If refugees do appear from north of US lines they will receive warning shots, and if they then persist in advancing they will be shot," wrote Ambassador John J. Muccio, in his message to Assistant Secretary of State Dean Rusk.
The letter reported on decisions made at a high-level meeting in South Korea on July 25, 1950, the night before the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment shot the refugees at No Gun Ri.
Estimates vary on the number of dead at No Gun Ri. U.S. soldiers' estimates ranged from fewer than 100 to "hundreds" dead; Korean survivors say about 400, mostly women and children, were killed at the village 100 miles southeast of Seoul, the South Korean capital. Hundreds more refugees were killed in later, similar episodes, survivors say."
That is, the US 7th Cav was involved in shooting "friendly" civilians on multiple occasions, killing hundreds at a pop--AND they were acting NOT as rogues, but in line with the State Department.
Case closed. But just for shits and giggles:
(2)
"Professor Kim Dong-choon, one of 15 commissioners, said there were at least four documented cases of US forces bombing civilians. The Americans feared infiltrators might be among them."
On my definition, this is enough: bombing civilians with Malice Aforethought counts as slaughtering them.
(3)
"In some cases, American forces are alleged to have been present and in at least one case an American officer authorised a massacre of prisoners believed to have left-wing sympathies."
The officer authorizing the killing is an agent of slaughter on my definition. That is: "Research in US archives has found one exchange in which a US colonel gives approval to a massacre in which 3,500 suspected leftists were shot."
That's enough for me; is it enough for you?
Dear, I am very saddened by what happened in gaza, I hope they wait to face this problem. introductory greetings The Anglican
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