Strange, perhaps, for a military brat to feel this way. But I don't believe that patriotism is best defined as American supremism. Perhaps because I lived a significant portion of my childhood in Germany, I feel strongly that atrocities are not committed by monsters in human form, but are committed by people much like us for reasons that we just as easily might have.
And we would be better served by looking for our mistakes and mourning the need to commit violence than by rejoicing that we are better than our enemies.
This is not a football game. I am ashamed of my fellow citizens.
"And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people. Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.
"Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives. And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger; and also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them;
"And this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity."
I totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine posted the following:
ReplyDelete"I think we lose a tiny piece of our soul when we rejoice and cheer at the violent death of an enemy."
My response was:
"Amen - even if this death was not a bad thing, in and of itself - even if we support the act of seeking the death.
I remember reading years ago about people who had gathered at a prison in Alabama where a murderer was being put to death by lethal injection at midnight. They threw a massive party to celebrate his death, and all I could think was:
That is so sad.
I wish SO much that we as a people could rise above such petty nonsense as my example - at the very least when we gather together as a people."
I agree. We should not delight in the shedding of blood. "Grim Satisfaction" might best describe my feeling for it.
ReplyDeleteI keep coming back in my mind to Teancum. Alma 51:34-36
ReplyDeleteYeah, I like the imagery of Teancum. I had not thought of it. I just don't think we should rejoice in it.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think Teancum handles the incident perfectly when he returns. He just has his men be extra vigilant in case the Lamanites were to awaken and come against them in retaliation.
ReplyDeleteAMEN. I also love what was quoted above:
ReplyDelete""I think we lose a tiny piece of our soul when we rejoice and cheer at the violent death of an enemy.""
My hubby read an article about WWII soldiers on the Germany side. It only took a couple of days for some of them to go from feeling sqeamish about killing people (of necessity) to making it into a game in which they gloried. NONE of us is immune from such hardness entering our hearts.
We should be ever so sobered by the fact that this is part of our world. I also try to remember that the Savior died for even the vilest of sinners. They did enough premortally to come here and obtain a body, and they will receive a degree of glory (since most have not received enough light to lose such a privilege).
Again, so sobering. Thanks for this post.