It looks like the war with Iran might end soon. Fingers crossed. It has been reported that at least half of Americans opposed starting it in the first place. And it fails the test for a just war established by St. Thomas Aquinas in the second place. The president has endeavored to justify this war by the aim of preventing Iran from getting the ability to develop a nuclear weapon.
In his “Summa Theologica,” Aquinas insists that war can be morally justified only if three demanding conditions are met: legitimate authority, just cause and right intention. As to legitimate authority, that test is not met here because under Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, only Congress has the authority to do so, and Congress has not done so.
As to the necessity of a just cause. Aquinas declares that those against whom war is waged should be attacked because they deserve it on account of some fault. He quotes Augustine, “A just war is wont to be described as one that avenges wrongs, when a nation or state has to be punished, for refusing to make amends for the wrongs inflicted by its subjects, or to restore what it has seized unjustly.”
Third, Aquinas asserts that the belligerents should have a rightful intention so they can advance good and avoid evil. Here he quotes Augustine, “The passion for inflicting harm, the cruel thirst for vengeance, an unpacific and relentless spirit, the fever of revolt, the lust of power, and such like things, all these are rightly condemned in war.” For Aquinas, the goal of any war should be to achieve peace. One can’t help but wonder whether a sustained bombing campaign in Iran is more likely to antagonize Iranians against the United States and cause them to rally around their government rather than achieve a lasting peace. Aquinas would certainly not countenance a threat to bomb another country back into the Stone Age.
The just war theory was never meant to make war easy to defend. Aquinas designed it to restrain violence and hold rulers morally accountable. Most wars, he assumed, would fail the test.
Under Aquinas’ standards, this one does. Accordingly, it cannot be called just. One may still debate geopolitical strategy or policy, but Aquinas would insist that moral judgment comes first.
And if a war is unjust, no amount of success can redeem it.
— Daniel T. Gillespie, Chicago
It is not an unnecessary war
Columnist Daniel DePetris expresses his surprise that Hamas refuses to willingly disarm in Gaza (“Trump’s board of irrelevant peace,” May 19). He then uses his superficial insight on Gaza, attempting to denigrate President Donald Trump with a non sequitur by accusing him of “launching an unnecessary war against Iran” out of the blue.
Hamas will be dispatched in due time. Where has DePetris been the past 47 years as the Iranian theocrats killed Americans and tens of thousands of its own citizens while chanting “Death to America”?
DePetris needs to ask himself: “How do I like my Iranian nuclear bombs, medium rare or well done?”
What about paying $20 per gallon gasoline as an appetizer to a nuclear-armed Iran?
— David N. Simon, Chicago
Extend kindness, not hate
I just read the article about the Mather High School student who, with his mom, was jailed after showing up at a mandated asylum hearing (“ICE detains Chicago high school senior and mother during check-in,” May 18). It quotes the Department of Homeland Security referring to immigrants as “illegal aliens.” I don’t have words to express my disgust at this treatment of human beings like Ricardo Hernandez-Navarrete, who walked for miles in subzero weather to get to soccer practice and who was looking forward to starting Truman College in the fall. He and his mom are human beings, not “illegal aliens,” and I suspect they would contribute as much, if not more, than many born here. And worse, Ricardo and his mom are not the only ones being jailed because of hatred of immigrants and refugees. Far from it.
And now, the administration is eagerly seeking to build warehouses for people who fled to our country hoping for a better life. The words on our Statue of Liberty now seem laughable. Our actions scream: “Do not give me your huddled masses yearning to breathe free!”
My grandmother came here from Ireland long ago, and she didn’t have it easy, but she wasn’t jailed for seeking a better life here.
Please, can’t we extend kindness, not hate, to newcomers today?
— Diane O’Neill, Chicago
Stop the spread of hate
I am disgusted by the shooting that happened to the Islamic community in San Diego. Unfortunately, social
media platforms are responsible for a lot of the hatred that people digest. My other concern is what is going on in homes. Are parents spewing hatred too?
We must all be cognizant of what we say and do in our own homes, especially when we have impressionable young minds absorbing it.
— Pam Izatt, Barrington
Slush fund for supporters
As the details of President Donald Trump’s “anti-weaponization” slush fund come to light, and taxpayers who will be funding it speculate about who may take advantage of the government’s largesse, I can’t help but think the largest portion will go to the Jan. 6 insurrectionists whom Trump freed from jail in the early days of his second term. Freeing those who viciously attacked Capitol Police and others was a thank you for answering the call.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has deemed Trump and his family and friends free from financial scrutiny.
The grift and the graft are breathtaking! Stop the madness. Where are our elected officials with a conscience and a spine?
— Pam Skinner, Palatine
Focus on Jewish responsibility
Reading the fine analysis of Kenneth Seeskin (“What Jews can learn from the pope,” May 11), I am left with confusion and disappointment regarding the headline.
The writer points out that both the Jewish and Christian traditions speak loudly about the proper treatment of powerless people. The writer also points out that the Jewish community in America is deeply divided over Israel’s actions in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank. However, I am mystified as to why the headline focuses specifically on Jews and not on America’s entire religious community, as pertaining to the dichotomy between our government actions and our supposed religious beliefs.
The writer or editor seems to have fallen into the same type of siloed thinking that, unlike all other peoples, all Jews are responsible for the actions of a minority government in Israel.
Are all people who are adherents of Russian orthodoxy guilty of Vladimir Putin‘s dastardly actions? Are all Catholics guilty because they might have been congregants of child abusers? Are all Muslims guilty because of the inhumane deeds of radical Muslims? Are all Hindus guilty of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s racism? Obviously not.
Lastly, I wonder who wrote the headline? Was it the writer or was it an editor?
— Thomas Green, Highland Park
Note to readers
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