George W. Bush is claiming to be a king. He is doing it by declaring himself the war president who is leading the war on terror. He says that as commander-in-chief in war time, he is above the law. He can declare any citizen an enemy, a terrorist, and arrest and hold that person indefinitely, without charges or a trial. Habeas corpus can be suspended, so that the victim's relatives may not know what happened.

Many people have pointed out that the American Revolution was about throwing off the rule of mad King George III, and replacing the absolute power of a monarch with power derived from the people. Under the US Constitution, the peoples' elected representatives make the laws and control the purse strings, and the executive branch is supposed to carry out the laws within the legal and budgetary constraints assigned by Congress.

Through bribery and blackmail, Bush has turned Congress into a rubber stamp body that gives him what he wants. He is packing the courts, so that they will uphold his will. Is this what the American people want?

It is instructive to read a Bible passage from 1 Samuel:

1 Sm 8: 6 -7, 10-22a
Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them.
He prayed to the LORD, however, who said in answer:
"Grant the people 's every request.
It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king. "

Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full
to those who were asking him for a king.
He told them:
"The rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows:
He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses,
and they will run before his chariot.
He will also appoint from among them his commanders of groups
of a thousand and of a hundred soldiers.
He will set them to do his plowing and his harvesting,
and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
He will use your daughters as ointment makers, as cooks, and as bakers.
He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves,
and give them to his officials.
He will tithe your crops and your vineyards,
and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves.
He will take your male and female servants,
as well as your best oxen and your asses,
and use them to do his work.
He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves.
When this takes place,
you will complain against the king whom you have chosen,
but on that day the LORD will not answer you. "
http://www.usccb.org/nab/011306.shtml

Kings always exploit the people, and use their young to fight their wars. Notice, however, that at the beginning of the passage, God says that the people are rejecting His kingship in favor of an earthly king. In other words, when the people listen to God, ie conscience and sense of justice, they do well. When they allow a human being to rule them, they will suffer.

Nevertheless, the ancient Israelites chose to have a king "to lead us in warfare and fight our battles". Is this what the American people are doing? If so, will God help us?

These are not our battles. Let us choose peace.

In the name of the Prince of Peace, Carol Wolman