"IF GOD be for us, who can be against us?" (1) This exclamation of the Christian faith, which German soldiers used to wear on the buckle of their sword-belt in World War I, is a slogan that American troops engaged in Iraq might adopt as their own. Those in command are setting the example.

President George W. Bush is a "born-again Christian"; he is "born again" to faith after a youth full of shameful actions. He does not limit himself to concluding his speeches with the famous "God bless America" that every American president invokes. He lards his communications with references to God and has given instructions that all Cabinet meetings begin with a prayer prepared by each Cabinet secretary in turn.

And now Congress has just instituted "a day of humility, prayer, and fasting for the people of the United States" in order that the American people "seek guidance from God . . . in meeting the challenges the confronting our Nation." (2) This decision has a single precedent in the history of the United States: in 1863, after two years of civil war, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed "a day of fasting, prayer, and contrition," at the request of the Senate. (3)

This unusual step shocks Europeans, who have a different conception of secularity, even if all do not share the rigor of the French in this matter. It is enough to recall that the delegates to the convention led by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing were unable to agree on even mentioning the religious heritage of Europe in the future Constitution [of the European Union]. (4) But for Americans, 80% of whom say they are believers, it does not infringe upon the separation of church and state, since no particular religion is mentioned.

Beyond these principles, in the eyes of hundreds of millions of Muslims this constant harping on God risks transforming the conflict between the Anglo-American coalition and the Iraqis into a new crusade, into a shock of civilizations and religions with devastating consequences that extend far beyond the region. (5) At the moment when the vote was taken on the day of prayer in the United States, an Iraqi imam armed with a Kalashnikov was summoning God to the rescue in order to drive the infidels off Arab soil. (6)

This danger has been acknowledged by some religious figures, including American churches, among which is the denomination to which the Bush family belongs. They do not identify with the "fundamentalism," which they consider to be an ideology that is foreign to the God of the Bible.

Despite his illness, Jean Paul II is redoubling his antiwar activity: "It is ever more urgent to proclaim, with a strong and decisive voice, that only peace is the road to follow to construct a more just and united society," he declared, before exhorting young people to continue their demonstrations. (7)

The Polish pope is telling us to leave God out of human foibles. It is to be feared that his message is not reaching the White House.

**Translator's notes**

(1) "If God be for us, who can be against us?" is from Romans 8:31.

(2) Actually, House Resolution 153, voted on March 26, 2003, did not institute "a day of humility, prayer, and fasting," it stated that "the president should issue a proclamation to that effect. The text of the entire resolution: " H. Res. 153[:] Whereas the United States is currently engaged in a war on terrorism in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001; Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States are currently engaged in a campaign to disarm the regime of Saddam Hussein and liberate the people of Iraq; Whereas, on June 1, 1774, the Virginia House of Burgesses called for a day of fasting and prayer as an expression of solidarity with the people of Boston who were under siege by the enemy; Whereas, on March 16, 1776, the Continental Congress, recognizing that the "Liberties of America are imminently endangered" and the need "to acknowledge the overruling Providence of God," called for a day of "Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer'"; Whereas, on June 28, 1787, during the debate of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin, convinced of God's intimate involvement in human affairs, implored the Congress to seek the assistance of Heaven in all its dealings; Whereas, on March 30, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, at the bequest of the Senate, and himself recognizing the need of the Nation to humble itself before God in repentance for its national sins, proclaimed a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation; Whereas all of the various faiths of the people of the United States have recognized, in our religious traditions, the need for fasting and humble supplication before Providence; Whereas humility, fasting, and prayer in times of danger have long been rooted in our essential national convictions and have been a means of producing unity and solidarity among all the diverse people of this Nation as well as procuring the enduring grace and benevolence of God; Whereas, through prayer, fasting, and self-reflection, we may better recognize our own faults and shortcomings and submit to the wisdom and love of God in order that we may have guidance and strength in those daily actions and decisions we must take; and Whereas dangers and threats to our Nation persist and, in this time of peril, it is appropriate that the people of the United States, leaders and citizens alike, seek guidance, strength, and resolve through prayer and fasting: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should issue a proclamation -- (1) designating a day for humility, prayer, and fasting for all people of the United States; and (2) calling on all people of the United States -- (A) to observe the day as a time of prayer and fasting; (B) to seek guidance from God to achieve a greater understanding of our own failings and to learn how we can do better in our everyday activities; and (C) to gain resolve in meeting the challenges that confront our Nation." (http://thomas.loc.gov)

(3) In fact the resolution mentions three other historical precedents, but it is at least arguable that they precede the beginning of the history of the United States.

(4) A reference to the fifteen draft articles of the European Constitution released on Feb. 6, 2003, by a convention on the future Europe presided over by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who was president of France from 1974-1981. France strongly opposed any inclusion of any mention of religion. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2734345.stm) This provoked much commentary from the religious right. For example, John Cheslow, a radio talk show host in Hot Springs, Arkansas, wrote: "THIS is why we should not care what the E.U. thinks about the United States of America." (http://www.gohotsprings.com/cheslow/print.php?sid=78)

(5) This point was raised in debate by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio, 10th District), who said: "Considering the dynamics of this war, I would just like to urge a note of caution here, Mr. Speaker; and the note of caution is that this resolution may be seen by some as an attempt to inject religion into this war at a time when some of America's enemies abroad are asserting that this is indeed a war about religion." It was also alluded to by Rep. Jim McDermott (Washington, 7th District), who said: "Many members, having read the summary, are probably uneasy because the resolution asks Americans to pray on behalf of the American Armed Forces and people -- not for the British soldiers dying in the desert, nor for the Iraqi mothers searching for their children in the flames, nor for the countless others who need the blessings of Providence. I know I feel uneasy about the narrowness of the resolution." Both voted against the resolution, which passed by a vote of 346-49. (http://thomas.loc.gov)

(6) Washington Post, March 28, 2003: "Muslim cleric Abdel-Ghafour Al-Quisi, with a Kalashnikov rifle resting against the pulpit, delivered a fiery sermon on state TV on Friday, the Muslim holy day. 'May God install terror in the hearts of our enemies, and set against them invisible soldiers,' he said in a sermon delivered at one of Baghdad's largest mosques. 'Their dead are in hell because they have launched aggression against a Muslim nation,' he said, referring to felled coalition soldiers. 'We are fighting guided by our faith. And we only depend on God.' As the imam spoke, a crowd of fervent worshippers interrupted his sermon with shouts of: 'God is great!'" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43356-2003Mar28.html)

(7) Reference to the Pope's statement of March 22, 2003: "When war, as in these days in Iraq, threatens the fate of humanity, it is ever more urgent to proclaim, with a strong and decisive voice, that only peace is the road to follow to construct a more just and united society. Violence and arms can never resolve the problems of men." (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/22/iraq/main545315.shtml)

--
Translated by Mark K. Jensen
Associate Professor of French
Chair, Department of Languages and Literatures
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447-0003
Phone: 253-535-7219
Webpage: http://www.tacomapjh.org/~jensenmk/
E-mail: jensenmk@plu.edu

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Last updated: April 1, 2003