tunic and cloak.

in the most recent dealings with north korea, senator sam brownback (R.-kansas) proposed to set an embargo and withhold aid as a way of coercing the north korean government to stop their pursuit of nuclear weapons. if history is to teach us anything, it is that embargos and withholding of humanitarian aid does nothing to coerce a governemnt to comply with the desires of the international community. for ten years, iraq didn't see any aid come in, whether it is food or medicine, and the saddam regime faired just fine. so then, who suffers? women and children (while all the men join the army and are fed well enough to fight with fierce loyalty).


jesus said "if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" (matthew 5:40-41). it seems that we're not only withholding our cloak, but we're also taking away their tunic. in the complex world of international relations, one thing is for sure: our world is not a fair place. in giving our cloak, we might just get a slap on the other cheek along with it.