Are we to suppose that believing in “just war” theory provides inner peace? Is this what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount? Didn’t Jesus teach love of one’s enemies, turning the other cheek and having faith in God rather than faith in the power of our armaments? Isn’t it true that early followers of Jesus refused to serve in the Roman military? Isn’t it true that the theory of “just war” developed after Christianity was accepted by Rome, and it assisted in joining the interests of church and state? If the Civil War and WWII were “just wars,” does that mean the pitiful slaughter and suffering of soldiers and civilians alike were appropriate in the eyes of Jesus/God?

The folks quoted in the article are made to say that, “war and religion have gone hand in hand throughout history.” Indeed, this is true and it suggests we are not practicing our religions, which stress love and detachment. Not only detachment from materialism, but also detachment from personal security. Protecting oneself with violence and killing was not a message of Jesus. The “just war” idea is oxymoronic and naive in that war doesn’t end war, it perpetuates it. It’s time for all of us to adopt nonviolence as a way of life while truly facing the underlying causes of war: rampant inequality, injustice, selfishness and lack of love.

Dave Depp

Corrections

A client of Hospice of Central Virginia was incorrectly identified in “Finding Peace” (Nov. 13). Wanda January is the daughter of the client named Miss January.

Ana Melara and Martha Benitez are not the only bilingual employees of the Chesterfield County Health Department (“Habla Espanol?,” Sept. 18), as had been reported to Style. Although they do the bulk of translation for patients in Health Services, registered nurses Mercy Robertson and Kathy Hutton are also bilingual, as are secretary Rosa Martinez, outreach worker Karla Davila and others.

Style regrets the errors.