Marines, War, Christianity, and Peace
Posted by Ryan Woods
Here's what I notice about guys who join the Marines (I would lump all service men into the group, but there is such a difference in the training of a Marine compared with the Navy or whatever):
- They are trained to hate: this is essential so that they are able to do their job without question. If they begin to put personality and likeable qualities to those who they fight they begin to be weak and to crack. Therefore they hate.
- They only see black and white: I'm not referring to race, but to their paradigm on life. There is no grey, there can't be.
- They learn to "love" to kill: I put "love" in quotations 'cause in my heart I believe that it's just a front and not truly a part of them. I hope that I'm right.
- They become paranoid: China is coming for us, and if you're not careful they will find your myspace and kill your family just to get to you.
- Everyone should be armed: If we all carried guns then nobody would get raped, robbed, or murdered. Who would even dare such a thing when they know that the woman getting into her car has a .22? Makes sense right?
- Getting help is a sign of weakness: Did you know that if you, as a Marine, see a therapist it goes on your permanent record as a blemish? It's weakness. Marines aren't weak, they are strong. Getting help is for the weak.
I could go on for a while. Don't waste your time arguing or agreeing with any of those points. Help me through this thought though:
Pacifism doesn't work on a large scale. Every pacifist is protected by someone who is willing to fight. If pacifist were in charge years ago we would all be Nazi right? So I understand that sometimes, some places, for some causes war is necessary. I also realize that most of the bullet points above are essential for creating a war machine. Thats what Marines are, they are machines created for winning wars. And they work. Marines do what the other branches do not/cannot. But here is the dilemma, I don't want anyone that I know and love to be like those bullet points. How could I ever endorse my son to be a part of something where he is trained to hate, be a bigot, kill, pretend, blah, blah, blah?! I can't. And yet, I know that it must be done. I cannot even imagine having a positive outlook on anyone who calls themselves a Christian joining the Marines. Because those bullet points go against what being a Christian is all about. One might argue, "But Ryan, just because they join they don't have to be like that." But I would say that they do. Maybe if they never go to war it would be easy to hide it. But they are not a Jarhead if they aren't willing to buy into to what that title means. Does that mean that I endorse all the unbelievers in going to war in the Christians stead? I'm pretty sure that doesn't work either.
And so, I find myself praying for those I know in the service, and praying for war to end. Peace.
*It's got to be said that I'm an ignorant civilian and this is all just from my perspective after watching and talking to only a few service men.
a
