War Made Easy- The Template

I have ben reading the book "War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits keep Spinning Us To Death" by Norman Solomon. I find it to be an eloquent disertation on the miltary-media- industrial- complex (known biblically as the World) and how it manipulates the perceptions of the public concerning its case for military intervention. Many people may not realize that in the last sixty plus years, nearly every "secular-humanist- military- humanitarinan" intervention that has been undertaken has followed essentially the same pattern of propagandizing and coercing the public. This pattern holds true not only for the current engagements in the Middle East but has also held true in Korea, Viet Nam, Nicaragua, El Salvador, The Dominican Republic, Panama, Haiti, Cambodia, Laos, Kosovo, etc., etc. This is not to say that these "enemies" were not bad people. But acknowledge if you will the template that is used when "convincing" the public what "must" be done about these situations.

The list below is merely the table of contents headings for the aforementioned book.
These headings alone read like a primer on selling a military intervention to the public. They will sound very familiar:

Building the Agendas For War

1. America is a fair and noble superpower

2. Our leaders will do everything they can to avoid war

3. Our leaders will never tell us outright lies

4. This guy is a modern- day Hitler

5. This is about human rights

6. This is not at all about oil or corporate profits

7. They are they agressors, not us

8. If this war is wrong, congress will stop it

9. If this war is wrong, the media will tell us

10. Media coverage brings war into our living rooms

11. Opposing the war means siding with the enemy

12. This is a necessary batttle in the war on terrorism

13. What the U.S. government needs most is better PR

14. The Pentagon fights wars as humanely as possible

15. Our soldiers are heroes, theirs are inhuman

16. America needs the resolve to kick the "Viet Nam Syndrome"

17. Withdrawal would cripple the U.S. credibility

Now, here is the model for Godly conflict resolution as set down in Romans Chapter 12:


Living Sacrifices
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[d]says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[e] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 12:1 Or reasonable
2. Romans 12:6 Or in agreement with the
3. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
4. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
5. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22

Also, cipher this:

Note this from Proverbs 6:16-19. Take special notice of the item at the top of the list and also the one that closes out the list:


16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:

17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,

19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

_______________________

The people who stir the toxic political stew everyday via the American airwaves and/or coin the phrases that become bumper stickers would be wise to heed these words.

Some may even accuse me of stirring discord. However, I dare anyone to find a place in this voluminous blog where I am engaging in deciet, encouraging violence, stirring hatred, advocating other than adherence to the edicts and/or principles of the Bible, promoting ANY political candidate or steering anyone away from Christ alone as the Way the Truth and the Light.

My message is simple really. To Cristians: Use discernment. Be the Church. Be at Peace. Recognize the World for what it is and realize the distinction between the World and the Church. Stand up for the Jesus Christ of the Gospels and the Beatitudes. Think eternally. Act spiritually. Speak the truth, Expose untruth even if it make people uncomfortable. Be slow to anger. Love. Do not hate. Trust God.