Good question- why is there such interest in war on a Mennonite Discussion Forum? Of course I’d be interested as to why there is, it’s perplexing.
Why would there be interest in a war?
Because of our nonresistance being a key difference between us and other church groups, war has affected our people in unique ways that it doesn’t affect others. And war has a way of making us very unpopular to say the least, and it should come as no surprise to you that for us, the main threat come to us from patriotic Protestants (such as yourself), and not from Iranians. The Iranians don’t imprison us for not joining the US military. The Iranians don’t shoot our church buildings, the patriotic neighbors did.
We are a third way, which makes us hated and a target by both sides.
In time of war, my neighbors (who aren’t in the military) suffer no community harm, since the whole nation rallies behind the military. We are viewed are cowards, or with suspicion as traitors.
Our war experience is not like yours.
Good points. You’re right.
But the Iranians have slaughtered over 50,000 of their own people who were protesting the evil regime. Defend Iran all you want.
Good question- why is there such interest in war on a Mennonite Discussion Forum? Of course I’d be interested as to why there is, it’s perplexing.
Why would there be interest in a war?
Because of our nonresistance being a key difference between us and other church groups, war has affected our people in unique ways that it doesn’t affect others. And war has a way of making us very unpopular to say the least, and it should come as no surprise to you that for us, the main threat come to us from patriotic Protestants (such as yourself), and not from Iranians. The Iranians don’t imprison us for not joining the US military. The Iranians don’t shoot our church buildings, the patriotic neighbors did.
We are a third way, which makes us hated and a target by both sides.
In time of war, my neighbors (who aren’t in the military) suffer no community harm, since the whole nation rallies behind the military. We are viewed are cowards, or with suspicion as traitors.
Our war experience is not like yours.
Good points. You’re right.
But the Iranians have slaughtered over 50,000 of their own people who were protesting the evil regime. Defend Iran all you want.
Who is defending Iran? As it stands we can hold 2 competing thoughts in our heads. To wit:
“We are a third way, which makes us hated and a target by both sides.
In time of war, my neighbors (who aren’t in the military) suffer no community harm, since the whole nation rallies behind the military. We are viewed are cowards, or with suspicion as traitors.”
To wit:
Valerie wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2026 10:20 pm
Defend Iran all you want.
JohnH wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2026 3:00 pm
I'm curious about these interviews too; I wouldn't mind being able to download them and listen to them when I'm driving around. I do prefer longer interviews to short "sound bites", clips, or interviews that only run total time for a few minutes.
Here is an interview with JD Vance for 3.5 hours:
(Be warned strong language is used by both JD Vance and the interviewer.) I found it informative but also troubling in the sense that JD Vance says he is trying to negotiate a deal / ceasefire but there he is facing a lot of opposition. Who, exactly, is behind trying to stop a peace deal? Why is there anybody in our government doing that?
Well, my guess is there are a few apocalyptic, 'end times', battle-of-cultures, East vs West ideologues in the government... particularly in the Dept. of Defense (er War). The one I have in mind in particular seems to believe war is a worthy test of 'Christian' manly character and therefore welcomes the chance or chances or many chances to prove such 'manly character'... hence peace deals are viewed as an impediment to that end... therefore I assume they are fine with 'endless wars'... maybe even to the point of continuing it, no matter what?
1 x
A Confessing Church would acknowledge the inescapable realities of sin and injustice in every human institution, including every political party. It would wholeheartedly reject any suggestion that one party or movement is the party of God. Paul D Miller
JohnH wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2026 4:01 pm
I have access to too much information, to the point I can't figure out what's going on. If I wanted to get up to date on the Iran situation, I can find multiple conflicting worldviews on both the left, the right, and in the middle.
For an interesting perspective, I like "What's Going on With Shipping" on YT
That is one of my favorites as well.
1 x
A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
HondurasKeiser wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2026 10:46 pm
Who is defending Iran? As it stands we can hold 2 competing thoughts in our heads. To wit:
Iran is bad
This war is bad.
Some of us can hold a number of competing thoughts in our heads.
Iran is bad.
USA is bad.
Israel is bad.
Hezbollah is bad.
This war is bad.
Jesus is good.
Many people in Iran, USA, Israel, and Lebanon are good.
3 x
A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
Valerie wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2026 9:22 am
...Then when you hear Iranians interviewed about it that are glad then it’s not like the way you make it sound that Trump just wanted to go invade a country and found people to support him. No, there are people that actually do support this that have nothing to do with just being Trump followers
My suspicions are roughly the opposite. I think his cabinet largely believed in the isolationism he ran on in the campaign but he got caught up in the energy of seizing Venezuela with little consequence, listened to a nice presentation from Netanyahu and pulled the lever over the warnings of people like Vance.
R7ehr wrote: ↑Sat Jul 25, 2026 11:38 am
Who would have predicted a year ago that the American peace president would be blockading and firing on and disabling oil tanker ships in the Middle East?
His supporters do like to say things like "don't pay any attention to his words, just look at what he does."
What he “does” is trying to protect a great many people who are targets by Iran. Peace by strength. Many leaders have said this was long overdue.