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.