Justice, peace in complicated Times

Published originally at the Lompoc Record -- Sunday, May 20, 2008. The event announced occurred last evening.



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Faith in the Public Square
Lompoc Record
May 20, 2008



Israel is celebrating its sixth decade of existence this month. For many this is a joyous milestone, but for others it’s simply a reminder of loss and humiliation. So polarizing is the issue of competing claims to this land that one feels compelled to choose up sides. Our reasons for making that choice are complicated by a variety of other issues that range from national security to religious conviction. For Americans who have never been to the region, or whose visits to that region have been skewed by one side or the other, we must rely on the testimony of others – including the media.

As a Christian, I look to this region with a sense of spiritual longing. I’ve never been to the region, but this land has a strong hold on me spiritually, for it’s the land of Abraham and David. It’s where Jesus was born, lived, and died. Jerusalem, which is a sacred site for three religions, holds my attention. As consider the situation, I have conflicting loyalties and concerns. I understand the compelling need for a homeland that led to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. My sympathies for this cause are reinforced by the legacy of anti-Semitism that has plagued the Christian faith for centuries, a legacy that enabled the horrors of the Holocaust.

I also understand that this wasn’t a land without a people when that nation was formed. Many of those people we call Palestinians lost their land, their homes, and their livelihood, and long to return to their ancestral homes. And many of those who have been displaced are Christians. And so, as sympathetic as I am to the Jewish claims to the land, I’m also sympathetic to those of the Palestinians. Indeed, it has been my constant prayer that these peoples, whatever their faith or national aspirations may be, might find a way to live together in peace.

Although seemingly far away, the US is deeply involved in the region’s disputes. Israel is a leading ally, but much of our imported oil comes from the region. We’re involved in a hot war nearby and in a war of words with another. It’s not an issue that can be taken lightly. Because we have a stake in this region, we need to educate ourselves as to the players and their concerns. As we do so, my hope is that we will commit ourselves to the cause of justice and peace for all of this region’s people.

The land of Israel and Palestine has been in a state of conflict for more than sixty years, and no just settlement to the competing claims to the land is in sight. The contemporary reality is this: There’s a state of Israel, and they’re Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank under Israeli occupation. That situation cannot go on indefinitely, and the situation as it stands is both unjust and will not lead to peace. Although the US has a role to play, ultimately the residents of this land must find a solution that recognizes the rights and the freedoms and the responsibilities of all involved.

Understanding the issue requires listing to more than one voice. One of those voices is Ann Baltzer, a young Jewish American whose encounter with the Palestinian people led to her becoming an activist for the Palestinian cause. Anna will be speaking at the Lompoc Library tomorrow evening at 7 P.M. While I’m not able to be at that meeting, I had the opportunity to interview her. She talked about her eye-opening encounter with the realities of the Israeli occupation, an encounter that forms the basis of her presentation. In her mind, the occupation isn't only unjust, it runs counter to historic Jewish ethical understandings. While she understands the Jewish felt need for security and safety – needs that led to the establishment of Israel and prolongs its occupation – she doesn’t believe that the occupation really serves that purpose. To her, the denial of human rights doesn’t make her people any safer.

Hers is just one voice, but it’s one worth hearing – even if you don’t agree with her assessment. Indeed, she told me she doesn’t want people to take her word for it, she wants people to check it out for themselves. That’s a worthy goal, and one that might just lead to a peace that’s just for all involved.

Dr. Bob Cornwall is Pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Lompoc. He blogs at http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com and may be contacted at faithinthepublicsquare@gmail.com.

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