TAKING OUT SOLEIMANI Postscript

Risks of Revenge versus Kindness

Monday, January 20, 2020

Monday, January 20, 2020
TAKING OUT SOLEIMANI Postscript

Title: TAKING OUT SOLEIMANI Postscript.

This is in response to Sara Schiermeyer’s letter which was a response to an earlier letter to the editor of mine. I had argued that it might be “just” to take out a “Muslim General” because that one had destroyed thousands of considered “infidels” before we took him out – but it was a “stupid” thing to do because of probable continued revenge on the part of the Muslim General’s followers. Sara argued that taking out Soleimani, that Muslim General, will likely “save lives,” presumably because that Muslim General will no longer be around to continue his savagery, so to speak.

In a way, Sara, for a “true Christian,” that should be irrelevant. Of course many will disagree, but I think the primary conduct for a Christian should be to treat all alike – and in one phrase – BE KIND TO ALL – regardless of how that might be taken by an unkind one. The reason for that is that to do to another is to do to oneself. If I am unkind to you because you were first unkind to me or another, then unkindness is my reward. It is as simple as that.

And though there is no assurance that my kindness will be embraced by one who has been unkind, there is a much better chance that one will return kindness and bypass revenge. Of course, kindness to all is risky, but from my “true Christian” point of view, revenge is far more risky because of what it will probably do to my soul. If I return evil for evil, then continued evil will likely be the result, but if I return kindness for evil, then true peace through kindness has a much better chance.

Sara argued that if one like Hitler had been “taken out” at the start of his "evil campaign," then perhaps World War II would not have happened. That is definitely true, but I would argue that if America and its allies had been kinder to a defeated Germany and Hitler after World War I, Hitler and Germany may have been kinder as a result – and, of course, World War II might not have happened. Indeed, kindness to all is risky, but, in my opinion, not near as risky as revenge. But thanks for your letter, Sara, and thanks to the Boomerang for letting me respond.