Think about this for a moment. Let's suppose that China, without evidence, just accusation, unleashed a military assault into Vietnam for no other reason than a suspicion that Vietnam posed a threat to their national security. Having tasted blood they then crushed the government of Taiwan reclaiming the island as their property. As the world began organizing its protest, China then announces a policy to undermine and bring down Japan's government through a policy of covert operations and financial aid to opposition parties. And finally, under the guise of protecting the security of the entire region, China announces a new military agreement with North Korea. What do you suppose would be the reaction of the Obama administration? What would be the reaction of the West in general, and the United Nations in particular?
What really could be our reaction if China, like a bully on the playground, suddenly started acting tough? It's not as if we could bomb them back into the Stone Age. It's not as if we could isolate them economically. Bottom line, we'd be up the creek and the entire earth would be staring down the barrel of a loaded gun known as World War III.
So think about that for a moment. Now tell me how is that scenario fundamentally different from our invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, our saber rattling toward Iran, our covert operations in Pakistan and Yemen, our building up of Colombia's military bases next to Venezuela's borders, and I haven't even mentioned those 800-plus military colonies spread throughout the earth, or our annual $700 billion-plus war budget?
Seriously, how is it fundamentally different? My point is this: How do we keep on living as citizens, no longer of a nation, but of an empire that is geared toward total global domination? What happens when the nation we were once part of, the nation whose ideals we were once proud of, the nation that once birthed the audacity of hope throughout the world, what happens when that nation becomes the source of violence and insecurity spreading throughout the world?
What happens when the beloved country unhinges from its moral base and turns toward evil? One might suppose that the Christian churches, followers of one crucified by empire might at least peep from their pulpits. But I challenge you, go to church this week and all you will hear is the prattling of "peace, peace" when there is no peace. It's as if we are living in normal times.
And so I wonder, what happens when the clergy claim sight when they cannot see, claim to listen when they cannot hear, claim to speak when they have no words? What happens when the clergy bend the knee before the gods of paycheck and career? What happens to a nation whose clergy, the spiritual leaders, become themselves seduced by the spirituality of the imperial beast?