When Jesus said, “Turn the other cheek,” I don’t think He was using it as a punch line.

War is the most destructive, painful, brutal, hateful, and costly choice for international relations.

When peace is lost, death ravages both sides.

War trains people to serve their country by killing people who are serving other countries.

War requires countries to use coercion, manipulation, propaganda, lies, drafts, fear, and shame against their own citizens.

Every war seeks to shame and silence the voices of any who oppose it.

To speak against war in general (and not just a specific war) is nationalism’s “unpardonable sin.”

The American Civil Rights Movement and India’s Independence from the British Empire demonstrated an effective alternative to war.

War is the use of violence, brutality, and cruelty by nations or other political entities, to try to accomplish their goals.

The goal of war is to outdo the other side in killing and destruction, thus guaranteeing great and terrible loss on both sides.

The horrific loss of life, remembered on Memorial Day (by various names) in countries around the world, should remind us of the world’s great need for peaceful alternatives to war

The Christian concept of spiritual warfare is a powerful alternative to physical warfare that is often neglected.

When Jesus said, “Love your enemies,” I don’t think He was trying to be a stand up comic.