Jacob G. Hornberger asks the all important question: Whether or not you would follow a President’s order, based on a contract you signed, to go and kill for no good (or just, or moral, or ethical) reason in Would You ‘Support the Troops’ in Bolivia?
It is a question faithful Christians should always ask. It is a question good and faithful Christians should be prepared to suffer and die for even asking —“ for that may very well happen.
The Young Fogey points to Mr. Hornberger’s article in: The president as a substitute conscience wherein he validly points out that we apply quite a different standard to the war criminals and dictators we don’t like, a standard that doesn’t apply to US.
On the face of it, no other man can assume responsibility for our conscience. It is the one and only thing we have certain and sole responsibility for. We cannot contract our conscience or soul away – regardless of the petty justifications we so readily acquiesce to.
A story on NPR today, Army to Court-Martial Soldier Featured in PTSD Story points to a factor Mr. Hornberger missed when he discussed our troops ‘contract’ with the government.
You see, Sgt. Tyler Jennings signed such a contract and went to serve on the President’s orders. He came back, along with his comrades, unable to cope and quite mentally ill. He sought help, got none. He turned to drugs to cope, and sin of sins he spoke out. Now the army is going to Court Martial this Sergeant.
You see, the contract employer —“ the Army —“ can award you a Purple Heart for your physical injuries, and leave your mental, emotional injuries untreated. The contract doesn’t cover the Army’s or the government’s responsibility toward you. If you no longer meet the requirement for contracted materials they will throw you out as just so much surplus.
Beyond that, they will readily ask you to kill the non-existent enemy and to do so without valid reason, your eternal soul not being a factor therein. As Mr. Hornberger points out:
Indeed, where is the morality in signing a contract that obligates a person to go kill people who haven’t attacked his country?
—But we signed the employment contract thinking that we were defending America,— soldiers say. —We’re just trying to be patriots.—
But everyone knows that presidents don’t use their standing army to defend America. They use it to attack countries that haven’t attacked the United States. After all, how many times has America been invaded by a foreign army in the last 50 years? (Answer: None!) What country in the world today has the military capability of invading the United States? (Answer: None!)
Can you sign a contract that you know, on its face, is a lie, and then follow through and perform on that contract? A question every parent should teach their children to ask. A question everyone who signed has the obligation to ask. Will you be punished for asking – certainly, but I’d rather take that punishment to the kind of punishment Sgt. Jennings will never escape, or the long lasting punishment of eternity – all for no good, moral, just, or ethical reason.
Pray for Sgt. Jennings, the men and women like him – so badly damaged, and for all servicemen and women, and most especially for our country. May we do justice and walk in the way of the Lord.