Remembrance Of Wars

MON., MAY 31, 1999, 7:03 PM
FARM, STUDY

Today was a day of symbolic remembrance… of wars in this century and of those who died in those wars. Those who participated in those wars and survived have been another “focus,” and, as expected, there are only a few men left who were in what your culture calls World War I. There still are many veterans of World War II, but you and your “comrades” are now among the elderly also.

There always are reasons for wars, with each side considering its motives to be the superior ones. It usually comes down to differences in values and perceptions, and the desire to have “the other side” accept what is “best.” When you’re on one side it is difficult to understand and appreciate how the other side actually differs from you.

You certainly know by now that I have created, allowed, and I do value, diversity. It is not My desire that all humans should think alike, act alike, and be a “united humanity.” (I do appreciate this as a goal of peace organizations, but I am not surprised and frustrated when it is not completely possible. Even in World Wars most of humanity was not truly involved.)

You, of course, know the conclusion of My servant, Rev. Malthus, that war was a means of reducing the human population, along with famine and pestilence… or disease. In other words, there must be major causes of death, particularly if there is no concerted behaviors to limit pregnancies. In earlier centuries the main casualties were the actual combatants, but in present-day wars, with aerial bombardments, there can be civilian casualties and destruction of property and “infrastructure.” In WW I, there was a coincidental epidemic of influenza, so there were deaths from both the war and disease.

Your culture has not “lost” a war, technically, during this century. There were fairly clear-cut victories in the two World Wars, but since then there have been “wars” that just “dwindled down,” rather than producing clear winners and losers. (Your culture would claim, however, that you have not “lost” any war, even if a victory is not clear.) As the most powerful nation on this earth it is “important” for you not to “lose,” but in some of these conflicts it is hard to determine what your role is and what, finally, constitutes a victory.

Personally, you have quite positive remembrances of “your War.” You took the opportunity to get a fine start on your higher education as a Navy student, enjoyed and profited from athletic participation, and made some positive contributions to your country’s war effort, though not in combat. (I do recall that you had some mixed feelings about this, with some fairly strong “urges” to be in some actual fighting… but this was not to be… even at the bar in Bermuda!)

It is hard for you to understand why Serbians are at war with Kosovars, why Koreans battled one another, North and South, why Middle Eastern nations and people are always close to war, why the Sudanese… the Irish… As I said, there always are reasons, but these are never only rational and logical.

In general, it is considered more “noble” to die in a war, as a combatant, than to die of pneumonia or AIDS… or to die from starvation… or, even to be a “civilian casualty” of war. My favorite King, David, was a good warrior, and I did bless some of his conquests, and kept him “from harm.” The Scriptural story (O.T.) has Me, as Yahweh, involved in some of the wars of those years. Have I blessed your country’s war efforts over the years? (Did I let the Confederate States down, when they counted on Me?) Am I as opposed to wars as some of My peace-loving servants assume?