Living Under Occupation

This chapter is interesting in how Wilson-Hartgrove tells the story about Pat, because it is something I can understand having been in a similar place when the Iraq war started. I'm embarrassed but when the invasion took place I thought it was a good idea and justified. Years later I now realize not only that violence is wrong, but according to Just-War tradition this war could just be justified anyway. After taking Just-War for my dialogue II class I began wondering why even Christians who believe in any form of Just-War theory (which is dumb in itself) could even justify Iraq or Afghanistan. I also agree with Wilson-Hartgrove's connection between economy, government and violence.

I still struggle with Wilson-Hartgrove's ideas as they still seem to be leaning on the weak side, which sort of makes sense understanding the audience of this book, but I feel much stronger than Wilson-Hartgrove. I have also been reading Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God is Within You and the book is known as the central work dealing with Christian anarchy. In his book, Tolstoy uses very strong language that no resistance to government, which will inevitably always use war to stay in existence, is wrong for a Christian who instead must be much more decisive with their practice (although this resistance was still non-violent). I think Wilson-Hartgrove's book is very solid and good for an audience entering into the economy of God, but by reading Wendell Berry and Leo Tolstoy at the same time with this book I feel even more strongly radical about these topics.