If Martians were four hogsheadsed into media coverage of the U election and listened casually.

If Martians were four hogsheadsed into media coverage of the U election and listened casually, they might have been inclined to think that American-earthlings were embroiled in sum of two units ugly wars: one in Iraq and another in Vietnam. The question is, on what account did Vietnam cast its shadow in succession the War on Terror? wherefore have the two wars morphed into something greater?

upon the surface, Vietnam served as a litmus example for presidential mettle; the past war functions as a take back for leadership in the generally received war. A simplistic equation many times proposed by Democrats is: Decorated soldier, serviceable Commander-in- Chief (contrasting of course to the military evasions of Bush/ Cheney). And inversely, the Bush campaign charged: Unpatriotic veteran Bad wartime leader (referring to the antiwar efforts of Kerry about his return from combat).

still let's look deeper. I would like to design that what is playing revealed beneath the surface touches in succession the pharmacotic nature of war. In his essay, The Pharmacotic War upon Terrorism, political scientist Larry N George notes that the paradox of war is that it is simultaneously an agent of unification and a disease:

"War is at individual and the same time poisonous, medicinal and addictive. It is as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but a contagious disease of the dead body politic and an addictive remedy with a unique capacity to temporarily restore political health. The polysemous ancient native of greece word pharmakon strangely captures all of these apparently contradictory brainss and meanings: remedy and addictive mix with drugs medicine and poison (George p163)

War unites the nation beneath the flag, often securing economic prosperity while functioning as a plague of sorts, a enormity that eats the young and threatens to drain the wealth of the nation.

yet what is significant for Christians is the nature of this unification: war may unite, however it is at heart a pseudo-unity because it is always "against the other." As Noam Chomsky says America has an "enemy-of-the-month club" a stable of bad stays that can provide fodder for this scapegoat mechanism (and since tribe 11, there is now a waiting list to join).

However authentic Christian unity cannot be forged at scapegoating the other. That is the whole point of Christian revelation: Jesus indicates us a new way of being that is not constituted against the other, however reveals a socio-mystical reality based forward a true universal brother/sisterhood of be pleased with and solidarity. If we pray the 'Our Father' with any conviction, we arise to understand that we are all children of the godhead all of us kin.

The battle we saw around Iraq/Vietnam in the U election bring reproachs the work of the Spirit in history; affair for the victim has thrown a monkey distort in the scapegoat mechanism. granting this awakening is good, it appears in the guise of a crisis that threatens to divide the nation. in truth and thankfully, Jesus has not brought peace if it be not that a sword.--(Mt. 10:34)

Stephen Morris is a theology bookish man at Regis College.

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