The Drumbeat Of War Is Out Of Tune

The daily drumbeat of war that we are hearing is totally out of tune with the majority of American public opinion.

According to a recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll more are in favor of using sanctions and diplomacy over bombing to prevent Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon capability.

When asked if they would support or oppose the United States bombing Iran's nuclear development sites in an effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, 53% of those polled said that they would oppose such military action.

When asked if they would support or oppose increasing international economic sanctions against Iran to try to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, 74% of respondents said that they would support economic sanctions. And to try to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons a full 81% support direct diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran to try to resolve the situation.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
- Jesus (Matthew 5:9)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Sermon on the Mount and Iran

In a recent post on the Essence Restored blog titled The Sermon on the Mount and Iran a very good point is brought up that all those who claim the name of Jesus should ponder...

"If it is morally justified to create a pre-emptive war and kill hundreds of thousands of people in the name of stopping a “hypothetical threat” then all the teachings of Jesus about loving our enemy, about how those who live by the sword will die by the sword, and turning the other cheek are pretty much worthless, and the teachings of Jesus should be abandoned."

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-92) England's best-known preacher of the nineteenth century said it quite well...

"The spirit of war is at the extremely opposite point to the spirit of the gospel"

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Preventing War Is Cheaper than Fighting It

According to the Friends Committee on National Legislation "Research has indicated that investing early to prevent conflicts from escalating into violent crises is, on average, 60 times more cost effective than intervening after violence erupts."

The FCNL goes on to say that "the world spends just $1 on conflict prevention for every $1,885 it spends on military budgets. Here in the U.S., less than 2% of income tax goes to civilian foreign affairs agencies; meanwhile, 39% goes to the military."

The FCNL points out that almost $1 billion of taxpayer dollars are spent each year for our military academies, but only about $40 million goes to fund the United States Institute of Peace, which is the only U.S. agency dedicated to conflict prevention and peacebuilding.


Download the FCNL flyer (pdf file) and find more of what the U.S. could accomplish if it budgeted for peace, not war.

Then saith Jesus to him, "Return thy sword to its place; for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword."
Matthew 26:52

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)