I have always been a qualified conscientious-objector...Maybe that’ s why I resent so much my President acting as if he wanted to be the Emperor of the World.

After reading a book in the 1930’s called “the Merchants of Death,” I came to believe that behind all wars was the economic factor. Wars are fought over Land, oil, copper, tin ,precious metals ..and Religion is always it’s handmaiden. The first Demonstration I helped organize was at the University of Redlands where I was a student. We carried placards saying “For the Future War Veterans As A Method for Solving a Nations Problems; War is Wrong!!” I haven’t changed much. In my first Parish after Seminary graduation ,the Ministerial Alliance picketed the Japanese ships in the Bellingham, Washington Harbor as they loaded scrap iron for Japan. It later came back to kill American soldiers in the Pacific.

Of the 118 men & women in our Parish, participating in WW11, one died on the Bataan March. Two men were Conscientious Objectors ,citing to the Draft Board the teaching of their pastor and their beliefs in the New Testament. Two young men ,one in the National Guard, the other in college committed suicide, unable to reconcile what was happening to them. I spent many hours and much serious thought in handling the grief of their parents and our Church and community. .. In my second Parish I buried Veterans of World War I who had been gassed in the trenches, weakening their lungs and bodies. I have become more and more against War.

Yet wars persist. In every decade of my life and 60 year ministry, I have seen my country paying for wars; past present and future. In my generation . as in others, I have noticed how binding Wars are to those who fight them. In many places, men and women eyes glow with excitement and manifest expressions of caring for one another. Deeper than spouse to spouse, are the bindings of participants when the adventure in War was so close to death; and includes the high chance of non-survival.

During the 40’s and fifties I served as the Chr. of the American Baptist Churches committee, on chaplainry. Appointing some 118 Chaplains. In Grand Junction, Colorado’ s Veteran Hospital I secured an appointment and served as a part time chaplain for 7 years; calling every week on the men and women coming there for treatment. I and handled the chapel Services each week. The most satisfaction to me was working with alcoholics. I facilitated the A.A. Group ands saw some miracles occur.

Many times I was present at the time of deaths. I can still hear men gasping as I prayed beside their beds, “Padre. Padre. pray for me to breathe.”

For 19 years, beginning with the A.B Home Mission Society, in 1946, it was my privilege to serve our Denomination, making many trips from the Northwest to the East Coast; New York City and later Valley Forge, Pa. Through those years i often spent an extra day (Thursday’s) at the United Nations in Flushing Meadow; and later in down-town New York City. I saw and heard many world Leaders in those early years among them Khrushchev, John Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt. In Valley Forge, I presided at a banquet honoring Harold Stassen, the last of the American signers of the UN charter.

I watched the UN grow each year as more nations became related to this: the only body we have to help us find Peace, from the Scourge of War. My Country at times has crippled it and ignored it. I believe we must build it up, pay our bills ,support and utilize it. Yes, we manipulate it. We are a very self-serving People. We must still cradle the UN. We dare not be America First. We have been and must be again Good Samaritans. In the now: World Global Economy. We are the Great Super-Power trying to learn from Iran & Iraq, Bosnia, Gulf War and the tragedies of the Jewish State . Like ancient Rome we now have troops all over the globe. I believe that if this nation as we know it, is to survive in a World of increasing Terrorism; the world Neighborhood must increasingly become a brotherhood.

Martin Luther King, Jr. our most well known American Baptist Pastor preached on Love in the First Baptist Church of Denver, where Carol & I were privileged to serve for 13 years . He said ona Monday night in the Sanctuary to a full crowd: “A world-wide Good Neighborhood Policy is now a necessity. We can no longer pass by on the other side.(this on April 16, 1962).” Such folly was once called moral failure. Today it will lead us to universal suicide. We cannot long survive spiritually separated in a world that is geographically together. In the final analysis, I must not ignore the wounded man on his Jericho road, because he is part of me and I am part of him. His agony diminished me, and his salvation enlarges me.

President Bush: Please...Please...A mature person is one that can wait...and wait a little bit longer,
Caleb Elroy Shikles 11-5-02