When it is safe for you is it safe for me?

[Guest]

view of Haifa with Lebanon in view.

[_karl61]

Today I was thinking about a lot of things and one thing went to another and some how I was thinking about the violence in the middle east. I remembered an event in Lebanon where a militia group massacred a refuge camp. The Israeli Defense Forces surround this camp and allowed about a 150 militia members to enter and try to locate "PLO" factions but really just massacred innocent civillians. The picture above is in Israel but Lebanon is in view. I was wondering if any BYU student in 1982 had bad dreams when a massacre was going on in the horizon. Did the Church say anything or were they neutral. It just seem life is so unfair for some while others enjoy peace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BYU_Jerusalem_Center

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabra_and_Shatila (warning: very graphic photo)

[_Roger Morrison]

Today I was thinking about a lot of things and one thing went to another and some how I was thinking about the violence in the middle east. I remembered an event in Lebanon where a militia group massacred a refuge camp. The Israeli Defense Forces surround this camp and allowed about a 150 militia members to enter and try to locate "PLO" factions but really just massacred innocent civillians. The picture above is in Israel but Lebanon is in view. I was wondering if any BYU student in 1982 had bad dreams when a massacre was going on in the horizon. Did the Church say anything or were they neutral. It just seem life is so unfair for some while others enjoy peace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BYU_Jerusalem_Center

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabra_and_Shatila (warning: very graphic photo)

Hi Guy, seems you are one of the "thinking" types :-) As for your last line questions: LDSism is not known for protesting many social issues that violate what are said to be Jesus' teachings, re poverty and wealth and the injustices suffered by the have-nots. OTOH, when male supremacy/patriarchy is threatened they can, and do, rally the troops. Recall ERA?

So no, i doubt the church said anything. They didn't in the '30s in Germany. In fact LDS were favoured, and accomodated a large number of military officers. Even as Stake/District Presidents. Article of Faith # 12 pretty well takes the spine out of their stand-up and be counted. No Dictator need fear Mormons. They tend to remain "loyal" as long as it's safe for them... Then Missionaries will be called home.

The "unfair-ness" of life was THE subject most addressed by Jesus in his teachings, and by his reactions/behaviours. Such a Christian identity--except for tokenism--has long been absent in the institutionalized traditional Christian religion. Can't think of any that followed the advice he gave the "Rich young man/ruler"?? "God" doesn't seem to intervene in "unfairness" either. Which leaves none but us. Both Marx and Jesus advocated , "from them that have to them that haven't." YIKES!!! Then we wonder why some think us North Americans 'evil'? THEY must be TRULY evil to think that of us!! Warm regards, Roger

[_karl61]

Roger, thank you for responding. As usual, you hit the nail on the head.