Archives for articles tagged "america"

July the 4th–Empire Day!

As it turned out, my schedule and my sentiments coincided in such a way that I mostly forgot that yesterday was the 4th of July until the day was almost upon us. I did, however, have some thoughts…

Since it was the 231st anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, I did the same thing I do every 4th of July. I read the whole document again. Have you read it recently? It’s actually quite a fascinating read. It includes a long list of the alleged crimes of King George III of England against the American colonies, including the following:

• For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
• For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
• For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
• For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
• He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
• He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
• He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

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07-05-2007 |

Is national interest an acceptable moral standard?

On the What does it mean to “die for your country?” thread, David H. left this thought-provoking comment:

The problem for me is that I can’t find where Christ allows national interests to be part of the equation on the value of any human life. If Christ is my King, if his kingdom is my ultimate citizenship, then I must have different allegiances and values…

My problem is with the leaders blindly pursuing “American interests” regardless of the cost to others. Has their effort made the world a better or safer place? How many wars need to be fought before they learn that violence, whether pre-emptive or reactionary (if the difference can even be told anymore), only results in more violence?

David raises an important question. Is national interest an acceptable moral bottom line, for the United States or for any nation?

06-07-2007 |