All's Fair In Love And War

"The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war." This verse from John Lyly's Euphues written in 1578 comes down to us as the title of this blog. Growing up, I remember having trouble believing that the CIA was responsible for carrying out assassinations in various parts of the world. I also had a problem understanding authorized gangland executions and unauthorized drive-by shootings. Nothing compares, however, with what has been sanctioned and is now to be increasingly funded in our military budget.

The idea of sending unmanned aircraft into potentially dangerous territory is as old as the Vietnam-era designation "termination with extreme prejudice". What is new is that the extreme prejudice issued by U.S. drone attacks is being authorized and carried out by members of a race who, in the history of this country, suffered extreme prejudice themselves. Like those wounded and killed by a mindless and lawless "delivery system," the enslaved black race had no rights and no protection from summary judgements of guilt. When one offender of the master race could not be identified or separated from other expendable targets of aggression, the prejudice was extreme and widespread, however regrettable.

How a black president, black military officials and anyone familiar with the dire struggle for civil rights in this country can not question, let alone challenge, continued, albeit remote-controlled, extreme prejudice is beyond me. Surely, the rules of fair play in this situation, and those who should benefit from them, need not apply. Surely, might makes right when a country like ours feels wronged. Surely, the days of unconditional surrender by our enemies are over.

Apparently, everything is fair in war, but how about love? Unconditional love is the force needed for dignity rather than fairness. It's when justice fails that true love sends in the reinforcements. When "From A Distance" is just a song, due process  just a legality, and "that of God in everyone" just a Quakerism, then love poses the quandary.

Can a supposed terrorist be respected for also being a father, teacher and patriot? Are there people who will mourn the enemy combatant as much (more?) as our own natural death would be mourned? Is death at the consoled-hands of a robotic device more humane than at the hands of an assassin, gang or perp?

I do believe that the days of unconditional surrender by our sworn enemies are over; but only so that unconditional love can begin to change war's suspended rules of fair play.