64 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 16 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

Appeal to President Barack Obama on Christmas to Reconsider His Position on Wars

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   1 comment
Message Bill Samuel
Become a Fan
  (1 fan)

Merry Christmas, Mr. President, to you and your lovely family.

In your Christmas radio message you said, "many are fighting halfway around the globe - in hopes that someday, our children and grandchildren won't have to." I believe that you were sincere in saying that, but I ask you to look at that statement in light of the facts of history.

Many of your predecessors said the same thing with respect to the wars they were fighting. People on both sides of every war seem to say that. World War I was called the "war to end all wars." This hope has proven itself through thousands of years of history to be misplaced. To the extent that history can be said to have proven anything, I believe it can be said to have proven that you don't bring an end to wars by waging war. It not only doesn't sound logical; it just doesn't work.

Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Jesus said, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." (Matthew 26:52) Is it just possible that Jesus knew what he was talking about? Is it possible that you really do not achieve good ends by slaughtering people?

In your Nobel address, you said you could not be guided as President by the examples of Gandhi and King. Your implication was that the ideas of peacemakers are impractical in "the world as it is."

Is it possible that it isn't people like Jesus, Gandhi and King who aren't facing the reality of "the world as it is" but those that advocate and wage wars? None of these men ever held political office. Yet each of them accomplished a lot more for good than you, the most powerful political leader in the world, will ever achieve by squandering our nation's dedicated people and resources on wars. And they lived in "the world as it is."

Mr. President, I implore you to re-consider your following of an approach that has proven over and over again to be ineffective, and causes untold misery. I ask you to abandon the approach of endless wars and instead offer us the politics of hope and lead our country in more positive directions that will constructively use the idealism of those currently on the battlefield and our material resources.

[Originally published on my blog]

Rate It | View Ratings

Bill Samuel Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Having lived six decades now, I've had a lot of experiences! Grew up in a family often oppressed because of our faith - we stood for peace and against war, and for the rights of all regardless of ethnic background. Active from youth in peace and (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Tell Congress: No Corporate Welfare

How the Green Party Nixed a Promising Candidate

Obama's Double Standard

MoveOn's 6.2% Landslide

Appeal to President Barack Obama on Christmas to Reconsider His Position on Wars

Why I'm Voting for Joe

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend