Greatness

When it is no longer possible to stretch those so very elastic threads of the historical rationale any farther, when an action is manifestly contrary to all that humanity calls right or even just, the historians resort to the device of "greatness." "Greatness" would appear to exclude the standards of right and wrong. For the "great" man nothing is wrong. There is no atrocity for which a "great" man can be accounted guilty....

And it never occurs to anyone that to admit a greatness that is not commensurate with the standard of right and wrong is merely to admit one's own nothingness and immeasurable puniness.

For us, with the standard of good and evil given us by Christ, there is nothing for which we have no standard. And there is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.

-Leo Tolstoy (discussing the actions of Napoleon and their interpretation in War and Peace)

Targeted Killing Justified

US can legally kill Americans in terror groups

NO.  Not justified.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.  Killing because we disagree.  The opposite of the whole story of America.  Who will be next?  You?  Me?

Targeted Killing Americans

Al-Alwaki

Assassinated by robot plane.  A US citizen never even charged much less convicted of any crime, was traveling in a car.

Do so few see the problem here?  Let me list some of the ideas and principles that it seems to me that many if not most Americans would value, that are obviously at risk here:

Right to life

Due Process

Constitution

Respect of person

Free speech

Autonomy

Ethical principles

Checks and balance in government

Right to a fair trial

Freedom of religion

American citizenship

Proper use of taxpayers’ money

Proper use of technology

Public access to information

Rights of the individual

Free association of persons

No guilt by association

Separation of church and state

Honoring International borders

Honoring International treaties

Respecting minorities

Protecting at risk minorities, individuals, and groups

Protecting citizens abroad

Of course I would not defend this man’s opinions or his actions in any way.  My concern is here for our country.  Many a state where the rule of law was lost and its citizens thereby subject to tyranny began down the path with some reason and foundation.  There a line was crossed and a pathway chosen.  God help us if that has happened to us.

wash post article

A Time To Kill?

Is it?  I talked about non-judicial killing.  I used the example of the robot plane, please see my last blog and especially the wise discussion in the comments, from someone much more knowledgeable about the use of the drones.  I was contemplating the ethics involved and of course I thought of the modern extreme example of obvious evil done by a country and by its individuals:  Nazi Germany.  Note the US Army Officers in training contemplating this.  

But I stepped back and thought of Bonhoeffer's thoughts on ethics, and His call to seek God and God's will and guidance rather than rely on our own feelings and opinions, the basis of most modern ethics.  What is God calling us to?  What is God calling me to?  And am I doing that?  

Is the church of America following the call of God?  Is our only recourse in the face of threat from terrorists seek and destroy?  Is there no hope in God?  I don't mean to make light of the evil carried out by terrorists.  But what in this age does God call us as His people to?  

"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”   

                                               -Jesus  (Luke 5:32)


"Thou Shalt Not Kill"
                -God

Non-judicial Killing

I will not condone non-judicial killing.  Executing persons without a fair trial.  I ask my government to stop this sort of activity, by whatever agency is using it, whether it be the CIA or the military or anyone else.

The existence of the remote controlled airplane to enact “targeted killing” is a specific example of this sort of action which I am compelled to speak against.  I can conceive of no way in which the use of an armed robot plane could be used in the world at present without the intent of executing someone without a fair and just hearing, without due process, without perhaps even knowing the name of the victim.  Of course there are other means by which non-judicial killing can be done:  a multitude of means are at the disposal of the modern killer.  But in all of those other methods, one could conceive that at least some effort might be made on the part of those involved to avoid killing:  the policeman could try to bring the criminal in but need to fire in self-defense.  The sniper can see the pirate ready to kill a hostage and must put an end to him.  But the robot-plane takes a convenient and chilling step back:  there is not even the attempt to hide the reality that what is happening here is murder.  Premeditated, calculated, the victim is selected and then by remote control, he or she is snuffed out.  No evidence presented.  No possibility that the person could defend himself or herself.

What is the basis for this my concern?  It is very simply the belief that human life is given by God.  God the creator has made the people of the earth, His children.  To take the life of even one of them is a horrible thing, an act of unbelief that says to God:  you do not know what kind of horrible creature you have made!  I (or my government) must set this problem right by removing his or her life. 

Now of course in this world there are times and seasons where the ending of life must take place.  War and self-defense are instances of this.  And to prevent the misuse of “exceptions” to the rules against murder, we must take great care.  For in the law forbidding murder as in all commandments given by God to us, our failure to obey attracts swarms of justifications that cloud the light required to see the law.  In this darkness, failure to obey is typically and usually simply that:  failure.

Our laws in the US have many safeguards to prevent our government from treading on persons’ right to life.  We will lose those safeguards and thus risk all of our lives if we continue to support and justify these non-judicial killings, these drone attacks.  Even worse, we risk the displeasure of Almighty God.