Religion’s Role in Battling Terrorism
As a Jew and as one who believes that violence only begets violence, I was appalled at the article by Rabbis Hier and Cooper in which they suggest that there be a formal congressional declaration of war against terrorist groups. They go on to say that such a declaration would permit the President to order “surgical strikes,” inferentially at will.
The rabbis, as spiritual leaders, should be providing us with direction to resolve our conflicts with terrorists without resort to violence. To be sure, this is a difficult route to take, requiring patience, time and an understanding of the root causes of terrorism. Our ministers, more properly, ought to be in the forefront--and, indeed, many of them are--of providing the leadership towards a world of peace. Surgical strikes are not the route.
BENNETT L. NEWMAN
Pacific Palisades
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