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Sep 19, 2009
Focus: Peace
Action Request: Other
Location: United States

Last night I saw an uplifting film on 3 Army Resisters, all inspired and motivated by their deeply-felt Spiritual values to face whatever the Army had to throw at them. Some Army Resisters have done jail time; among those was Camillo Meijas, who had this to say among other things:

"People ask me {in reference to his Conscientious Objector position against all war}, what about Nazi Germany? Well, if there had been a sufficient number of Conscientious Objectors in the German Army, it would have stopped the war from even beginning!" {I am paraphrasing.}

Do you think this is a vain dream by a misty-eyed but impractical Idealist??????? You may very well think so..... BUT, the next thing that appeared on the screen after that statement, and I remember the figures very well, was this statement:

In Germany, {a year or so ago}, 150,000 soldiers were called up for Military Service. {I didn't know that Germany had a draft; but there you are.}

Of these, 70,000 served in the Military.

But, 80,000 of those called up, registered as Conscientious Objectors! and did NON-MILITARY SERVICE.

I guess the Germans have learned a lesson others have yet to learn???!!!

This ought to be MUCH MORE WIDELY KNOWN.

Another great idea I brought out of that meeting to view and discuss the film, a meeting of neighbors known as "Friday Night at the Meaningful Movies", was this:

All high school boys in the U.S., without exception, when they reach their 18th birthday are REQUIRED BY LAW to register for Military Service -- even tho we supposedly don't have a Draft! At one time, there was a box they could mark, saying "Conscientious Objector". Under the Reagan presidency, this box, the "C.O. option", was removed!!! It should definitely be put back in! This is a specific anti-Military "small" but important thing we Activists can agitate for.

The Pacifist Quakers {Friends}, who often help individuals who resist the Military, both spiritually and with legal help, suggest that those {young men and women} who desire a C.O. option start collecting a "file", now. Things like photographs of themselves at anti-war rallies, statements of teachers and religious counselors and relatives, books on non-violence they have read that influenced them, etc. {This in case a Draft should be re-instituted.}

For more on Resistance in the Military to Imperialist War waged by the U.S. and allies over control of the world's resources: you can go to my group, "These Boots Were Made For Walkin' -- Bring All Troops Home Now". All sincere War Resisters with friends in and out of the Military, are invited to join this group.

Sep 19, 2009
Meet REV. RICH LANG: Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Ballard {Seattle, WA}. For a look at how he interprets the Book of Revelation go to http://www.tumseattle.org/ and click "sermon".

"Today's column is Part One in a series of articles concerning a very intimate and controversial subject: Christian Zionism." {In Real Change, a member of the North American Street Newspaper Association. Published weekly and sold by the poor and homeless of Seattle.}

 "...............Christian Zionism is the dominant belief of media and cultural Christianity in America. A Christian Zionist is a fully committed supporter of the Jewish right to the entirety of the land of Israel, including the West Bank, Gaza and, for some, all of the land between the Nile River in Egypt and the Euphrates in Iraq. {Emphases mine! BMT}

The belief emerges from a peculiar interpretation of the Bible that assumes that the scriptures contain a hidden code revealing a detailed prediction of events that will lead to the end of life as we know it. The good news of such an end becomes the advent of an entirely new creation, purified of all the unclean and unrighteous. Christian Zionism affirms that the Jews must reclaim their own purified land before the end-times clock can start. Most {but not all} Christian Zionists believe that today the end-times clock is about to start ticking. One implication being that those kids we all sent to school last week, are, in fact, the last generation before the end of time.

The theology of Christian Zionism has major implications for the political, economic and military policies of this nation. Whether or not you give a rip about such esoteric theological pontifications, the reality is that such pontifications have deeply influenced the right-wing of this country. Such pontifications are, for example, deeply embedded in the theology of many chaplains who serve in the armed forces, and who have indeed helped twist the minds and hearts of our military apparatus in our current undeclared holy war against Islam.

Christian Zionism is a movement of spiritual despair. It has political implications that justify violence, genocide and ethnic cleansing in a celebratory fantasy that they will glorify and please the Creator. In the months ahead, I will continue this series with growing specificity concerning the theological heresy of Christian Zionism. I will attempt to make the case that such a Christianity is the antithesis of the spirit of Jesus, and the Jewish tradition in which his teachings are rooted. Such a theology, I will argue, imperils the wellbeing of our nation and the political and economic health of all creation."

By Reverend Rich Lang, Seattle, Washington

I look forward to the future series! BMT

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Posted: Sep 19, 2009 1:21pm

 

 
 
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BMutiny TCorporationsEvil
female, age 77, single, 1 child
Seattle, WA, USA
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