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# Reasons for war are a ruse
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/reasons-for-war-are-a-ruse-editor/
- Published: 2007-05-31T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:53:42.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Ocean Park, #archive-import

*By Jon Mann Santa Monica*

I have to take exception to the Memorial Day columns by Bill Bauer (“Arlington West exploits the dead,” May 28) and Paul A. Morin (“It’s time to respect Memorial Day”). Memorial Day is not about honor, duty and dying for your country. That is what Hitler told the German people. There is only one thing I would die for — to protect my family, but that is not what Iraq is about. Most wars are fought over trade. Patriotism, nationalism, freedom and religion are just pretexts governments use to get us to lay down our lives so they can profit.

There was a Christian rally near Ocean Park Boulevard and the bike path that was held to glamorize war and encourage sacrificing one’s life for God and country. Is that really that much different than what the Islamic martyrs are doing? The poor sheep didn’t even comprehend the irony. What would Jesus do? He was about peace, love, brotherhood and communal sharing, not go out, invade and occupy other countries. The real Jesus was a teacher and a preacher. The same Jesus who threw out the money changers from the temple.

I have seen war and it isn’t pretty. Both sides claim God is on their side. Memorial Day is not just about remembering those who died protecting freedom. What about those who died for wars over oil and other resources, like in Vietnam and Iraq? Should not those of us who mourn those pointless deaths be allowed to voice that opinion so there will be an end to such wars? How much longer must the slaughter in Iraq continue? Saddam is dead, but he was just a pretext. No WMD were found. There was no Al Qaeda connection, but there sure is now! What ever happened to getting bin-Laden?

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 31, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/053107.pdf?ref=smdp.com)