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In the wake of World War II, there was a general idea that humanity would not survive another world war. The ghastly atrocities that took place in Nazi Germany, combined with the terrifying new technology of nuclear power, left the world broadly convinced that negotiation and diplomacy must be the new global norms. That was the idea, anyway. Of course, war has been a tragic constant. In fact, you could make the argument that the world war never really ended—it has simply been fragmented and divvied out piecemeal across the globe; one battle after another, as it were. This is why even though President Donald Trump can flippantly declare an end to conflict that has been raging across Gaza, we all know better. These conflicts haven’t truly ended. As Jeremiah said, “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (6:14). That’s why I’m grateful for Nusaiba Mubarak and her work to shine a light on the ongoing violence taking place among the Palestinian people. Her haunting report on how archaeology is being weaponized against Palestinians as a way to claim their homes, businesses, and farms shows how the vulnerable continue to suffer even when news cameras and political leaders move on. But we as Christians, called to the work of peacemaking, cannot move on. Our goal is not just formal declarations of the end of conflict, but the active presence of peace. We continue to share these stories and mourn with those who mourn until the threat of war is truly replaced with the promise of peace. Elsewhere on sojo.net, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners had a big night at the Oscars, and our policy and action assistant, Trinity Williams, wrote about the movie’s faith themes in her commentary “No, ‘Sinners’ Is Not Anti-Christian.” We also take a look at the Mennonites who are standing up to ICE in Minnesota. And finally, we remember the late, great John Perkins, who passed away last week after nearly a century of fighting for racial reconciliation in the church.
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