TJP

The perspective of war is often multidimensional; it is seen through different lenses and interpretations. The attacker’s point of view is often rooted in historical grievances and the victim’s point of view is always from current perspective. Reconciling these differences often leads to understanding and peace.

Unfortunately, more often than not, neither side cares for, or accepts, the perspective of the other.

In Ezekiel 33:8, God asks us to dissuade the wicked from their ways and if we fail to warn them, He will hold us accountable. The problem, however, is perspective. The wicked, for most, is always the others and not us.

In Sirach 27:30, we are told that wrath and anger are abominations, but sinners (we) hold on to them. In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive his neighbor seven times and Jesus answered seventy seven times.

Lets look at the September 11, 2001 attack through Jesus’ perspective and through Bush’s perspective. We know the outcome of Bush’s perspective, more violence and death.

If the nation had followed Jesus’ perspective, what would have been the outcome? Following Jesus’ perspective there would be less violence and deaths and greater prospect of world peace.

In retrospect, Americans should have dissuaded the government from responding to the attacks of September 11, 2001 with violence. Ezekiel 33:8 is unambiguous, we are accountable to dissuade the wicked from their ways.

Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbors, but many among us act as if Muslims are not neighbors.

Clearly, it is difficult to reconcile belief in Christ with our actions. Even under a different administration enmity towards Muslims still persist.

The 2008 change in administration created worldwide expectation that a new era of understanding was on the horizon. However, heightened continuity of the Bush doctrine increased the cycle of violence; more drone attacks and more killings.

The reason why Jesus told Peter that he should forgive more that seven times is that forgiveness breaks the cycle of violence.

And, God puts the responsibility on each one of us to warn the wicked of his ways. Therefore, we must warn government officials and ourselves that vengeance is not ours, it belongs to God.

Lets double our efforts to show genuine love to our neighbors by asking our government to join the nations of the world in recognizing Palestine at the United Nations.

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