That's hard to believe, being that we attacked a country twice (Iraq) when it never attacked us, and before you add that we were coming to Kuwait's defense, one is only looking for trouble when one meddles in other country's foreign affairs. We also kept supporting Israel, even though I think that country is "right," knowing that it made people angry. Again, trying to do nice things for Kuwait and Israel led to people becoming angry enough to attack us on 9/11, so then we attack two more countries, and just recently we find Al Qaeda at full operating strength. Our foreign policy, though with the best intentions has failed to be helpful, and it is easy to see why. Wars are in their nature bad just as violence is. As you point out in your example about the rape, there are righteous examples of using violence that thereby leads to a more positive end. Look at World War II. No one here is going to say that the world would be better of if Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany were unopposed. However, how many totally useless wars (Vietnam, Iraq, World War I, etcetera) that contributed nothing but bloodshed can we count against it? Just think of the history of the world and the amount of needless wars. My point is that for every just instance for violence, there are countless unjust instances. That's why it is best to turn the other cheek. Because when we stop turning the cheek and start assuming that we know for a fact that violence is best, we end up doing a bunch of bad things that only put us in worse situation. The Son of God was onto something. So, if you honestly believe there is a situation, like that rape, which calls for action which might oppose Jesus' commands, be prepared to be judged by God and hope your attentions are pure. If your intentions are impure, if you are looking for revenge and honor, if you hate your enemy, if you commit acts of questionable retaliation at the drop of a hat, if you support uninstigated acts of pre-emptive war, then the Lord sitting at the right hand of God, in my humble opinion, will most likely be displeased and condemn you for not turning the other cheek, loving your enemy, going the extra mile. Faith in Jesus with God's grace will count as righteousness. But without faithfully following the Lord's commands, how will one receive grace? By appealing to human wisdom? For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 18)

Post edited by: JamesRaio, at: 2007/07/13 09:38