tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684752445949340487.post2144575228419133955..comments2023-06-29T16:23:39.806+01:00Comments on engage: Something to remember....?markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556299081652933923noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684752445949340487.post-20743363709508260252008-11-28T15:08:00.000+00:002008-11-28T15:08:00.000+00:00Thanks MarkI remember thinking about this a lot ar...Thanks Mark<BR/><BR/>I remember thinking about this a lot around remembrance day. I was reading a few things on violence and the trajectory in the bible story away from it + the hope as the kingdom comes of a trajectory away from it in the world. i was also struck though by how the people on the front line are basically 'doing a job' and playing out someone else's strategy (tragically stupid strategies in WW1). Doing Guantanamo research I was struck by the way the Geneva Convention acknowledges this.<BR/><BR/>Do I blame the soldier for war or the systemic and complex stuff that caused it. Do I blame an individual politician eg blair/bush or a party labour/republican - or do I take responsibility myself for allowing it. Did the centurion who started to follow Jesus quit his job or get out there and be a radically different type of centurion?<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't want to alienate people in the forces who do that job. I guess I would want to urge them to travel that trajectory of justice and peace as well as they can in their treatment of others in what they do (e.g. approach to civilians in Iraq, in treatment of prisoners etc etc) In the heartbreaking and confusing times of conflict I think much future hope and potential healing can be achieved by the way war is conducted BUT of course bottom line what greater good could be achieved if a mass of people civilian and military refused violence and sought justice in more creative ways?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com