#ant-war

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This one was courtesy of Tindeck.com as a source. The only problem is that, as far as I can tell, Tindeck doesn't provide this in the form of a permalink. This means that in the future, things could moved around on their site, and the link would stop working. Of course, as always, these will only work on the blog, not in the dashboard.

Since the beginning of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, two words that have rarely been seen together are “Baptist” and “pacifist.” We have instead been subject to things like high-profile Baptist leader Jerry Falwell writing a defense of the Iraq war titled “God Is Pro-War,” Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, writing to President Bush that his “policies concerning the ongoing international terrorist campaign against America” were “both right and just,” and the Southern Baptist Convention passing resolutions expressing appreciation for President Bush, U.S. troops, military chaplains, and the war effort.

You exchanged bullets for blood Lost souls drown in a crimson stained mud While I long for the sweetness of silence instead The stench of feces from the bowels of the dead Evacuate the corpses, that are lined with lead The story, the tragedy, the farce, and the deceit Illusion far greater than the stench of the street Buildings decimated, structures blown to dust And for what reason what lies separates us Different religions and symbols they treasure Different way of thinking or taking their leisure His skin is a different pallor, his language is strange We see so many differences but ignore whats the same How joy makes us smile and pain makes us weep When we feel fatigued we both have to sleep I know for a fact that we both had a mother Thus by deduction we must each have a father We both have eyes, fingers, and toes Feet, arms, legs, mouth, and a nose With the rare exception of the people who lost those If we’re are shot and bullet pierces skin We can both bleed death, so why shouldn’t enemies become friends Anger can fade it need not lead us to danger We are born of the same earth so we need not be strangers So I will sit with you if you will sit with me Take a moment of peace for our entire human family Not because we share some grand spectacular destiny Or to make our mark on the annals of history We’re are brothers and sisters, spreading peace is not just a necessity But, by the need of love becomes our responsibility

When you don’t have to see When it’s just a tv screen Muted voices scream But you can’t hear a thing

When you’re not on the ground To feel the fear or hear the sounds Then it’s easier to look away It gets easier to stand and say That waging war is okay

But when it’s your blood Or the blood of those you love When the price you pay is personal Then the decisions are made more carefully Too bad politicians and rich men Don’t have to send their sons and daughters Off to war to face an almost certain slaughter

Maybe if the generals and congressmen The admirals and the president Had to stand in the thick of it I might trust their judgment

Got steel caliber with a different bullet, Loading shells into a brand new turret, No time to contemplate our enemy’s family, Or ponder all of this masochistic insanity.

Ten years in reverse I can see how it started, But I never thought about the broken hearted. Parents bleeding, while their children lay starving; We cut them down likes weeds in an old man’s garden.

Nine years to go, but I don’t know that yet. If I survive will ever I be able to forget, All the things we did for our nation, In the name of patriotic presentation.

Eight years left but my feet are bloody, Back is breaking and the ground is muddy, Sinuses infected from orange powdered napalm. Does it really matter who has the biggest bomb?

Seven years left and I think that we’re winning; Didn’t know this was just the beginning. One more year to go and my service is up, Then I can spend time with the ones that I love.

The next two years go by so freaking quick, I thought that they would finally let me quit, Served my time and I want get the hell out. Still don’t know what our leaders were talking about.

Four years to go till the bodies stop dropping. Will I ever see the day when the bombs quit falling? People still think that this war is righteous, But I feel like it’s been a big load of horse shit.

Another year gone by with blood on my hands, Got to wash it clean and I still don’t get man. Rich men and politicians sons, Never have to come and shoot these guns.

Two years pass, and I’m dam near cationic, To stop the shakes I need a bit gin and tonic. One more year and I get to go home. Can’ wait to hit the old city streets to be back on my own.

Last day and now I’m gone. Got blown up in Vietnam, Shot down on the borderline, Baby now it’s the end of my time.

I could not cut a man down in cold blood Shoot him in the head and leave him to die Forgetting he has a family, others who will suffer Could you cut him clean from this mortal coil Would you gun him down if he wasn’t a stranger If your faiths weren’t different If he didn’t seem to be a danger If he was your brother Your cousin Your cousins friend That friend’s Uncle How many degrees do you have to be separated before it gets easier Before you can kill someone without thinking or feeling like something is wrong How many shades between you and black does it take to turn off your heart Don’t let them slice and dice away the spark that knows from heart to heart We are all connected The shadows of strategies and collateral damage The camera closing in from a distance We all live and die Love and cry So how far removed would you have to be To take a gun and kill me