War Before Education

I use to hesitate speaking to others about my belief and conviction in Christian pacifism. I didn't want to upset anyone and was worried I might offend someone I love. Over the past year, however, I have gone from closed mouth to someone who can't shut up about the legitimacy of Christian pacifism. This new found boldness came from the realization that the majority of Christians and non-Christians are only taught one side. Whether from the pulpit or in the classroom, all a person hears is the reasons for participating in war. At best they are taught "just war" theory and at worst they are taught "kill or be killed". So if someone is going to continue to give reasons for participation in war, then I am going to be a voice of dissent and challenge their assumptions which in reality have no substance. There are many dimensions that make up my conviction for Christian pacifism. Besides the obvious spiritual dimension in which war conflicts with the commandments of Jesus, there is also an economic dimension which makes war an impractical and insane practice.

In Feburary 2005, the Washington Post analyzed the President's proposed budget for 2006 and their findings were astounding.

Proposed 2006 Department Budgets:

Department of Housing and Urban Development--> 28.5 billion
Department of State--> 38.1 billion
Department of Education--> 56 billion

Department of Defense--> 419.3 billion (78 billion on weapons systems)

Does anyone else see a serious problem?

A good friend of mine told me a good way to see what is important to someone is to see where they spend 1) Their time 2) Their energy 3) Their money

First, Where does the nation spends its time? While the nation spends its time with all kinds of matters, defense is definitely given top priority. Think of all that goes into forming attack plans and bombing strikes and counter offensives. The time that goes into finding the most effective way to defeat the enemy. The odd thing is that for all their time planning it seems that more innocent civilians than combatants are killed in warfare. Imagine what could happen to our education system if we spent just as time thinking of better ways to educate our children. Thinking and developing new and sharper curriculum to enhance the learning process. Thinking of better ways to use the various kinds of media we have in the 21st century. Thinking of better ways to discipline children that would build up and strengthen rather than what tears down and destroys a child. But this kind of thinking isn't even on the radar of the national conscious. We seem more concerned about Al-Qaeda and the war on terror.

Second, Where does the nation spend its energy? According to the Washington Post article, 78 billion of the 419 billion goes to weapon systems alone. 78 billion dollars given over to develop more efficient means to kill people. 78 billion dollars to develop more efficient means to torture people. Many people make an entire career on delveloping new means of technology that serve one end: to destroy other human beings. Imagine if we spent just as much time developing the young minds of today. If we spent as much time giving our children a well rounded education. A education that not only taught the basic math and reading, but allowed our students to express themselves in art and music. Sadly, many art and music programs have become expendable in order to meet the ever growing defense budget.

Third, Where does the nation spend its money? If the numbers were some what close, then there would be little reason for discussion. The department of education was budgeted 56 billion dollars while the department of defense gets 419 billion dollars. As you can see the numbers are not even close. I know 56 billion is nothing to frown at, but how much stronger could education be with just half of the defense budget. NYC public schools has a budget of almost 2 billion and that's just one city, but somehow the department of education is suppose to provide for nation's children with 56 billion dollars. I can't explain the reason for the canyon of difference, but it seems to me that we would rather find news ways to destroy our fellow human being, than teaching him or her to read and write.

I know money is not the cure-all, but it is absolutely a part of the solution. As it stands right now some teachers can earn more picking up trash for the city and could probably get better health insurance. By providing better salaries and better insurance schools could choose from the cream of the crop rather than dragging from the bottom of the barrel. My brother, a social worker, has told me story after story of kids in middle school who can't read and can't do math because they can't read word problems. Vital programs are being cut from our schools while more and more money is going into the bottomless pit called Iraq which is only leading to more insurgent attacks.

So this week ask yourself what is most important. Is it to have a supreme weapons system capable of destroying thousands of people? Or is it to make sure our children are given the best education possible? Our defense should not rely on bullets, bombs, or F-16 Tomcats. Education is our best defense. Only education can defend us against the true enemies who are ignorance, hate and fear. The only way our enemies will succeed is if we continue to put war before education.

CJE

Coming Next Week: Shiloh: Year 6!

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