Gun Free Zone
Today, a friend of mine posted on their Facebook: "Is it just me, or is making a MILITARY base a gun free zone the most illogically ridiculous thing ever?"
She had a good point. I simply and playfully made the comment, "Definitely challenges our common notion of militarism."
Now, I have no idea what she was talking about. I don't know what legislation or policy or context in particular she's actually commenting on, but it reminded me of a sort of "slogan" that the Christian Peacemaker Teams used to have on their website (might still have it somewhere), "What would happen if Christians devoted the same discipline and self sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devoted to war?" I was also reminded of Jesus' illogical command to Peter, "put down your sword" (Matthew 26:52). And I was reminded of Paul's observation that "the cross is foolishness..." (1 Cor. 1:18).
What if military bases, of all places, were "gun free" zones? That would be foolishness, right? I guess it probably would... but maybe... just maybe... the fears we have and the things we hope will be accomplished through military intervention--namely, our fear of death and our will for peace!--could actually find solace and solution in a gun free zone, or at least in a place where swords are put away. Now am I talking about the real world? Maybe not. But is it a world that could be made real? Could it possibly be the world more real than this one in which guns and intervention are such compelling dance partners?
What kind of world would be required for militarism to find a definition compatible with disarmament, with non-violence? Where could it be fathomed that victims could find peace without becoming victimizers? It's "illogically ridiculous," but it might, in some world, be the logic of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And perhaps as Christians, its precisely of that world that we are to be ambassadors in this one?
She had a good point. I simply and playfully made the comment, "Definitely challenges our common notion of militarism."
Now, I have no idea what she was talking about. I don't know what legislation or policy or context in particular she's actually commenting on, but it reminded me of a sort of "slogan" that the Christian Peacemaker Teams used to have on their website (might still have it somewhere), "What would happen if Christians devoted the same discipline and self sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devoted to war?" I was also reminded of Jesus' illogical command to Peter, "put down your sword" (Matthew 26:52). And I was reminded of Paul's observation that "the cross is foolishness..." (1 Cor. 1:18).
What if military bases, of all places, were "gun free" zones? That would be foolishness, right? I guess it probably would... but maybe... just maybe... the fears we have and the things we hope will be accomplished through military intervention--namely, our fear of death and our will for peace!--could actually find solace and solution in a gun free zone, or at least in a place where swords are put away. Now am I talking about the real world? Maybe not. But is it a world that could be made real? Could it possibly be the world more real than this one in which guns and intervention are such compelling dance partners?
What kind of world would be required for militarism to find a definition compatible with disarmament, with non-violence? Where could it be fathomed that victims could find peace without becoming victimizers? It's "illogically ridiculous," but it might, in some world, be the logic of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And perhaps as Christians, its precisely of that world that we are to be ambassadors in this one?
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