This is important because war is intrinsically evil and results in the deaths and dismemberment of tens of thousands of innocent victims, both civilian and military.  War epitomizes the dark side of mankind and his basest nature.  Even beasts do not calculate murder, slaughter and destruction on such a scale except to respond to their natural instincts to survive.  This is also important because we are becoming immune to the atrocities of war and because we are deceived by governments and presidents into thinking that various nefarious acts are necessary for our own security.  It now appears that whatever is declared as "in the strategic interest" of the United States we have an unchallenged right to it. 

When we mistake targets and our drones kill whole families because they were mistaken for enemy combatants the spokesperson for the President comes forth to tell us of the President’s deep sorrow.  It is then dismissed as so much more flesh and blood scattered upon the heap of collateral damage.  This means little to us because it is someone way far off in a foreign land, somebody’s brother or sister or mother or father, child or grand-parent but surely not mine.

Americans are not deceived.  We know that the only ones who profit from war are big corporations, weapons manufacturers and politicians.  We also are aware that what we are told is not always true, maybe half true perhaps totally false, e.g.  “Iraq was in possessions of weapons of mass destruction.”

Lastly this is important because love is absent.  Love cannot co-exist with evil. Hearts meant to embrace love and compassion become full of hatred and guile...

The commandment “Thou shall not kill” is made a mockery.  Jesus’ command to “Love our neighbors as ourselves and to love one’s enemies and to do good to those who persecute you…” all are trampled underfoot.  And so we must each ask ourselves, “Who are we and what have we become?”  Have we become the stuff of legends, murderers and butchers like our barbarous ancestors?