Tonight, I went to an event my church has where we watch a movie, and then afterward we discuss the movie and how it relates to culture. Christians aren’t supposed to live in this bubble, and we try and emphasize that.
Tonights film was “The Devil Came on Horseback,” which is about the tragedy going on in Darfur. I went in not really knowing a lot about the situation in Darfur, nothing really. The discussion afterward is what triggered my deepest thoughts. Rob, who leads the discussion, commented on how there is this conflict in American culture where we want to just go in and destroy the bad guys, and where we kind of wonder if we should be policing the world. I know that is something I really have struggled and still struggle with.
If military action is taken, and we go in and “destroy the bad guys,” there still is very little infrastructure set up in the country to help people get back on their feet after such an enormous catastrophe. Unfortunatly, even though American’s have the resources to help set that up, most of us would not make the sacrifices to do so. Yet, is it really America’s job to take care of the world? Where do you draw the line of us using our resources to help other countries? Why are our soldiers dying in other peoples wars?
We go into other countries with completly different social structures than ours, different histories, different religions, different everythings, and try to set up the same or similar government and then wonder why the people don’t embrace and love democracy as much as we do. I am by no means anti-democracy, it’s a good form of government, I just don’t think it is a universally good form of government.
Sometimes I feel so cynical. I know that even if we get rid of one evil leader, another will spring up in a matter of days, maybe in the same place, maybe in another. Humanitarian aid will not lead to people being better towards each other, nor will military action, sanctions, trials or ridding the area of “the bad guys.” The only thing that can and will make the world a better place is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Only through knowing and emulating His love, care, mercy, compassion, and justice can the world be better than what it is now.
I have raised up so many questions in this post and no full answers. What do we do about Darfur? How do we react to huge crises like this? Honestly, I have no idea. I will however continue to think and pray and search for peace and restoration. I will love those around me here in Columbia, no matter who they are. When confronted with violence or injustices in my backyard, I will fight.
