Tao Te Ching 31

Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent men detest them. Weapons are the tools of fear; a decent man will avoid them except in the direst necessity and, if compelled, will use them only with the utmost restraint.

His enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself. He doesn’t wish them personal harm. Nor does he rejoice in victory. How could he rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?

He enters battle gravely, with sorrow and with great compassion, as if he were attending a funeral.
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Luke 6:27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?
35 But love your enemies, do good to them.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

- Jesus

Romans 12:18 “If is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

- Paul of Tarsus

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it – always.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

These are not easy words to follow. Following them requires faith in their truthfulness, and requires courage beyond our usual ability to comprehend. Faith is not easy either to attain or retain when someone believes s/he is under attack. At such times, courage gets forcefully shoved into the small context of bravery in violent retaliation.

In the presence of our enemy, the only “f” words that come to mind are fight or flight. Faith is left to be exercised before and after the battles. Jesus, Buddha, the Tao, Paul, Gandhi, and countless other inspired voices of universal wisdom have directed us to turn to non-violent solutions for whatever threatens us – except in the direst of necessity and then only with the utmost restraint - and with sorrow and great compassion. As Jesus said, however, the words of the prophets are only for those with ears to hear them. Do we hear them?

The events of 9/11 created a dire necessity and the armed entry into Afghanistan in pursuit of those who are responsible for that attack was an appropriately restrained response. Invading Iraq was neither a dire necessity nor was it undertaken with utmost restraint. “Shock and awe” are not synonyms for sorrow and compassion.

The invincible always fall. Think of it – always.