Thus says Psalm 122:6. The second part of the verse is the one that seems to get people into a whale of trouble, especially given today’s climate – "May those who love you prosper." Unfortunately, too many evangelicals are willing to give Israel carte blanche in their war against Hezbolla, regardless of how many innocent people the Israelis kill. After all, how can "God’s chosen people" possible be wrong? The sign below bears out how literally some take this verse, in the hope that by loving Israel and anything they do, they are somehow pleasing God.
Recent letters to the editor of the Greenville News have echoed these sentiments. This one in today’s paper was particularly offensive to me…
Israeli attacks don’t target the innocent
There are no "innocent civilians" in Lebanon or any other enemy country. Citizens are responsible for the kind of government they live under. If your neighbors are sent to concentration camps and you do not emigrate, or join the opposition party, a protest movement or an underground, then you are not innocent.
By the very fact that Lebanese citizens tolerated Hezbollah to carry out terrorist acts against Israel from within its borders, Lebanon and its entire population are the enemy. If Israel responds in a way that kills non-soldiers or even children, that is a tragedy, but the guilty party is Hezbollah, not Israel.
Ted Gray, Simpsonville
So, basically, this idiot is advocating genocide. People should be killed simply because of who they are, or where they unfortunately happen to be, not for anything they have done.
Fortunately, there are some moderate and reasonable voices around. This is the letter immediately following the right-wing nutjob above…
Wars are killing innocent children
The numbers of children who have died is heartbreaking. The bombing must stop. This is the 21st century and war is barbaric and women and children always pay the price for the bad decisions of men. Leaders all over should take measures to end the wars now.
Debra Eades, Greenville
Let’s just hope, for the sake of the Lebanese people, that more of the latter voices are heard.