When pacifism turns to stupidity
I'm sorry, but I just have to be an equal-opportunity critic when dumb things are said and done in Christ's name. The latest comes from the tragic news of the Virginia Man Among Four Kidnapped in Iraq. He was a member of a team of pacifists in Iraq named "Christian Peacemakers Teams". They were kidnapped by a gang of terrorists calling themselves the "Swords of Righteousness Brigade," which, according to the article grabbed these people and, "claimed they were spies working under the cover of Christian peace activists."
Sadly, unless these terrorists wise up -- and that's not likely -- I'm pretty sure these well-intentioned folks will be the next victims of some beheadings or other gruesome deaths-of-choice at the hands of what we now call "violent extremists".
So, what's the reaction of this group? "'We are angry because what has happened to our teammates is the result of the actions of the U.S. and U.K. government due to the illegal attack on Iraq and the continuing occupation and oppression of its people."
That's really, really stupid.
I understand that their blind rage against the Bush administration makes it hard for them to understand the horrors of Saddam's reign in Iraq or see how profoundly he obstructed U.N. efforts to ensure he wouldn't commit the same atrocities he had in the past. But stepping in to challenge a war that's fighting terrorism abroad, then criticizing that war by pretending it's the cause of the very thing it's fighting when that fight is embodied in the plight your teammates now face... well, it just doesn't make any sense! Despite what the anti-Bush crowd would like to claim -- and theirs is a purely political claim, which has nothing to do with genuine Christian pacifism...
What's happened to this group's teammates is the result of evil actions of terrorists. Claiming that a coalition offensive in response to the Iraqi government flouting 17 U.N. resolutions is the cause for terrorists idiotically nabbing your peace activists is a real stretch. Claiming that it's natural for oppressed people to grab the nearest aid workers, accuse them of being spies, and behead them (sure, not yet, but it's coming... or maybe simple gunshots execution-style this time?) is a profound insult to the oppressed people of the would who somehow manage to avoid beheading those who are there to help them.
Sadly, unless these terrorists wise up -- and that's not likely -- I'm pretty sure these well-intentioned folks will be the next victims of some beheadings or other gruesome deaths-of-choice at the hands of what we now call "violent extremists".
So, what's the reaction of this group? "'We are angry because what has happened to our teammates is the result of the actions of the U.S. and U.K. government due to the illegal attack on Iraq and the continuing occupation and oppression of its people."
That's really, really stupid.
I understand that their blind rage against the Bush administration makes it hard for them to understand the horrors of Saddam's reign in Iraq or see how profoundly he obstructed U.N. efforts to ensure he wouldn't commit the same atrocities he had in the past. But stepping in to challenge a war that's fighting terrorism abroad, then criticizing that war by pretending it's the cause of the very thing it's fighting when that fight is embodied in the plight your teammates now face... well, it just doesn't make any sense! Despite what the anti-Bush crowd would like to claim -- and theirs is a purely political claim, which has nothing to do with genuine Christian pacifism...
What's happened to this group's teammates is the result of evil actions of terrorists. Claiming that a coalition offensive in response to the Iraqi government flouting 17 U.N. resolutions is the cause for terrorists idiotically nabbing your peace activists is a real stretch. Claiming that it's natural for oppressed people to grab the nearest aid workers, accuse them of being spies, and behead them (sure, not yet, but it's coming... or maybe simple gunshots execution-style this time?) is a profound insult to the oppressed people of the would who somehow manage to avoid beheading those who are there to help them.
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