To every thing there is a season, I guess, and a time to every purpose under Heaven. In American politics, it appears, this is the time to kill. Even John Edwards, the Democratic vice-presidential hopeful, is making it clear that his administration will track down and kill the terrorists. Which terrorists, we’re not quite sure. Bin Laden, most likely. Others, perhaps. Whomever harms us, it appears, must die.

You know you’re in trouble when the leaders of a nation esposing freedom are talking openly on the record about killing people, any people. Capture, stop, arrest, track down, imprison, bring-to-justice -- okay. But do we really want our children watching this on television? All four potential leaders, both men on both sides of the political aisles, have made their intent to kill – to take human life – a campaign promise.

All presidents kill, in one form or another. George Washington wanted to exterminate Native Americans. Abraham Lincoln’s presidency was a blood bath. Truman dropped the A-bomb, killing tens of thousands in moments. Presidents have secretly authorized assassinations, allowed condemned prisoners to be executed, or simply signed legislation that led to the death of some over the salvation.

But this murderous rhetoric is new. This is worse. This is scary. Forget that all the candidates are practicing Christians, followers of a man who advocated turning the other cheek. What is even scarier is that no one seems to notice. No one denies that the terrorist hit first. They are, by definition, evil people who do not value human life. But there are some Americans, albiet fewer and fewer, who believe that the goal of a free democratic nation is to move toward greater, not lesser, humanity.

For the record, the most peaceful era in our nation’s history was its first 50 years beginning with the arrival of the Pilgrims. But we earned our freedom from Britain in war, and we’ve been at war, give or take a few decades, ever since. The Iraq War, so far, has cost between 13,000 and 15,000 civilian lives. That does not count over 1,000 American soldiers and support staff killed. That does not count Iraqi soldiers. That does not count people dying today, tomorrow and in days to come. That’s a lot of human life lost, even if you believe in an eye for an eye.

So whomever wins the election, we are told, the killing will continue. It will continue in the movies, on prime time TV shows, in rap music, in our schools, through continued terrorism, in foreign genocide. And it will continue through our President, who promises he will capture and kill the terrorists, who are growing in number every day. Any candidate who offered not to kill, but to heal, would never stand a chance. Only a coward would think otherwise.