US Attacks Iran 2026

[ken_sylvania]

I’m not sure how bombing Iran and killing civilians is going to get them to stop chanting “Death to America.”

Dead people don't chant "Death to America"

True…but their surviving family and neighbors might.

Exactly. Maybe my imagination isn't fertile enough, but I can't figure out how bombing people will make them more friendly to the folks responsible for the bombing.

[Szdfan]

Dead people don't chant "Death to America"

True…but their surviving family and neighbors might.

Exactly. Maybe my imagination isn't fertile enough, but I can't figure out how bombing people will make them more friendly to the folks responsible for the bombing.

It’s because they’re evil and our violence is righteous. The myth of redemptive violence is very strong.

[Judas Maccabeus]

I’m not sure how bombing Iran and killing civilians is going to get them to stop chanting “Death to America.”

Dead people don't chant "Death to America"

True…but their surviving family and neighbors might.

And their descendants, to the 10th generation.

[barnhart]

It’s because they’re evil and our violence is righteous. The myth of redemptive violence is very strong.

Of all the false religions in the world, this one may be the deadliest and most pervasive.

[Szdfan]

Dead people don't chant "Death to America"

True…but their surviving family and neighbors might.

And their descendants, to the 10th generation.

The ancestors of modern-day Iran having been living in that region for thousands of years. Our concept of memory is limited compared to theirs.

[JohnH]

It’s because they’re evil and our violence is righteous. The myth of redemptive violence is very strong.

Of all the false religions in the world, this one may be the deadliest and most pervasive.

"Redemptive violence" is the very core of Shiite Islam. It is interesting to see people busy defending it here on MennoNet.

[Dan Z]

It’s because they’re evil and our violence is righteous. The myth of redemptive violence is very strong.

Of all the false religions in the world, this one may be the deadliest and most pervasive.

Here is the prayer our Secretary of War Pete Hegseth led at yesterday's Pentagon prayer service. He repeated a chaplain's prayer originally given before a battle against the Japanese in WWII:

• "Almighty God, who trains our hands for war, and our fingers for battle, You who stirred the nations from the north against Babylon of old, making her land a desolation where none dwell. Behold, now the wicked who rise against your justice and the peace of the righteous. Snap the rod of the oppressor, frustrate the wicked plans, and break the teeth of the ungodly. By the blast of your anger, let the evil perish, let their bulls go down to slaughter, for their day has come; the time of their punishment. Pour out your wrath upon those who plot vain things, and blow them away like chaff before the wind. Grant this task force clear and righteous targets for violence, surround them as a shield, protect the innocent and blameless in their midst, make their arrows like those of a skilled warrior who returned not empty-handed. Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. Preserve their lives, sharpen their resolve, and let justice be executed swiftly and without remorse, that evil may be driven back and wicked souls delivered to the damnation prepared for them. For the wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ, King over all kings, and amen."

There is a perverse beauty to the prayer of a pious warrior. It reminds me a lot of a gussied-up version of Mark Twain's satirical "War Prayer" from 1905:

• "O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it — for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen"

[JohnH]

Dan Z,

Would you have the same criticisms of the general viewpoint of war and violence as being redemptive that is intrinsic to Shiite Islam?

[R7ehr]

It’s so weird how people want to keep the violent part of the Old Testament, but leave out the sacrifices and strict obedience. And blend that with the personal “grace and forgiveness” of the New Testament, but leave out all of the other teachings in the New Testament.
All they want is a religion that allows them to kill others, while not needing to really do anything sacrificial themselves, but keeping God on their side.
Such a weird religion, 1/4 Israelites, 1/4 Christian, and 1/2 self.

[Szdfan]

It’s because they’re evil and our violence is righteous. The myth of redemptive violence is very strong.

Of all the false religions in the world, this one may be the deadliest and most pervasive.

"Redemptive violence" is the very core of Shiite Islam. It is interesting to see people busy defending it here on MennoNet.

I don’t see anyone here defending Shiite Islam.

It seems like you’re interpreting disagreement as endorsement, which is the same kind of move you’ve objected to when it’s done to you.