New York - U.S. Army Soldier David Swan, a white American Christian used the power of social media to write a letter of support, peace and love to Muslims.
New York – U.S. Army Soldier David Swan, a white American Christian used the power of social media to write a letter of support, peace and love to Muslims.
Swan describes himself as a Southerner who loves Jesus. Having fought in the war in Iraq, he sends a touching message of unity and respect between American Christians and Muslims.
“I don’t hate you. I don’t fear you. I don’t want you to leave this country. I want to know you, your heart, your struggles, and your joys. I want to have you over to my house for barbecues. I want our children to be friends and play in the back yard together. (…) I want share mutual respect with you,” David wrote.
For David, knowing who the real enemy is, while not giving in to their twisted plots that “attack peace and normalcy,” will help eradicate hatred and violence around the world.
“We share a common enemy in the radical Islamists. They want to drive us apart and to fear each other. They want your children to grow up hating my children. They want you to believe our wayof life is evil and that we must be punished for it,” he continued.
The U.S. Army soldier urged Christians to follow the path of Jesus and be compassionate and merciful.
“I want to believe that we, as Christians, could follow the example of Christ and show love to you as well as your people suffering through this refugee crisis in Syria by opening our homes and communities to you,” he added.
David addressed people of all faiths to come together and stop “fear and hate” to “break the cycle” terrorists want us to be submitted under.
“If you truly want peace, I challenge you to befriend someone ‘on the other side’. (…) We need to learn about each other’s lives and differences. I believe we will find that there aren’t as many differences as one might think. We all want to make a living, raise our families in a safe place, and live in peace.
As a military officer, he felt the need to explain that the infortunes of a conflict are disastrous and that “war is hell but as Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Swan concluded by sending a clear message of “no tolerance” to terrorists and those who have been manipulated by the lies of radicalization.
“[Extremists] you have bought into a lie. You have been promised a glory for your actions that does not exist. We take no joy in killing you, but we will do it because you have forced our hand. We will reduce the Islamic State to an impotent and ineffective shell of what it once was just as we have with Al Qaeda. The world will not know your names, but your families will undoubtedly mourn your loss. May God have mercy on your souls,” the letter ended.
