May the memory of Daniel Pearl be blessed. G-d Bless the Pearl family.
G-d Bless Vice President Cheney. He is a good hearted man.
Posted on 08/17/2004 6:07:06 PM PDT by Cinnamon Girl
Yesterday, some people on Free Republic decided to sell the entire Pearl family down the river, calling them names and declaring them liberal extremists, because of the following report from Yahoo/AFP:
Daniel Pearl family asks Cheney not to use reporter's name
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The family of Daniel Pearl, a US journalist who was beheaded in Pakistan two years ago, urged US politicians not to use the reporter's name for invoked Pearl's name during a campaign event.
"The family of Daniel Pearl respectfully requests that his legacy remains non-partisan," The Wall Street Journal reporter's relatives said in a statement responding to Cheney's comments.
"We would like him to be remembered for what he was in his life, a passionate American and humanist who rose above political, religious and cultural divisions," the family said.
"We ask that Daniel's tragedy and legacy be used to bring people of all parties together against the hatred that took his life and thousands of others."
Cheney used Pearl's name in Ohio last week as he derided Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's pledge to wage a "more sensitive war on terror that reaches out to other nations." Kerry will face President George W. Bush, a Republican, in the November 2 election.
"A sensitive war will not destroy the evil men who killed 3,000 Americans and who seek the chemical, nuclear and biological weapons to kill hundreds of thousands more," Cheney said. "The men who beheaded Daniel Pearl and Paul Johnson will not be impressed by our sensitivity."
US engineer Paul Johnson was decapitated by Islamic extremists in Saudi Arabia in June. Pearl was abducted and beheaded in Pakistan in early 2002.
Here's what Daniel Pearl's father emailed to me in response after I expressed my concern that Vice President Cheney is good hearted and that Daniel Pearl's memory belongs to us all:
DR. PEARL WROTE: "You are absolutely right -- we erred.
We tried to keep the name of Danny out of partisan politics, but it turned against us, and now we are perceived as partisan, even anti-Cheney, when in truth Cheney's remark was so true. These killers will not be impressed by "sensitivity". "
Dr. Pearl also asked that the original statement to the press be printed here, because he said it was chopped up and distorted by the press:
"The family of Daniel Pearl respectfully requests that his legacy remains non-partisan. We would like him to be remembered for what he was in his life, a passionate American and humanist who rose above political, religious and cultural divisions, and used his pen and fiddle to connect people of all backgrounds. In our visit to the State Department, in February 2004, we were given assurances that this administration is fully aware of the tremendous potential of the legacy of people like Daniel, who earned respect on both sides of the East/West divide in improving the image of America in the Muslim world and mobilizing people globally to join in the war on hatred. Indeed, several US Embassies around the world have joined our effort, led by some of the most prestigious artists in the world, to encourage musicians of all nationalities to participate in The Third Annual Daniel Pearl Music Day, which promotes a more humane world, free of the hatred that took Danny's life.
Now, more than ever, we ask that Daniel's tragedy and legacy be used to bring people of all parties together against the hatred that took his life and thousands of others." (end of statement)
--HOW OFTEN HAVE WE SEEN THAT THE MEDIA GETS IT WRONG? WHY DO WE JUMP TO THE WRONG CONCLUSIONS WITHOUT CHECKING THINGS OUT FIRST?
This seems like a good opportunity to remind everyone on Free Republic that this website is viewed by people all over the WORLD. When ignorant or cruel comments are made here, other Freepers aren't the only people to read them. Think about whether you would be willing to say to the face of the famous or well known person what you have said on Free Republic about them. MANY OF THE PEOPLE YOU WRITE ABOUT ACTUALLY READ WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN HERE, ON FREE REPUBLIC. Think about that.
May the memory of Daniel Pearl be blessed. G-d Bless the Pearl family.
G-d Bless Vice President Cheney. He is a good hearted man.
Blessings on the Pearle family.
Thank you for posting.
Great work, Thanks for posting this.
"a good opportunity to remind everyone on Free Republic that this website is viewed by people all over the WORLD. When ignorant or cruel comments are made here, other Freepers aren't the only people to read them."
THANK YOU
I know that hundreds of Freepers have followed the whole Daniel Pearl story over the past few years, with a lot of emotion and concern. Sometimes it seems like we are just commenting in the private realm of FR, but in fact, the very people we talk about or who are connected to the stories we post, are often here with us.
Your statement about not saying anything here in FR that you wouldn't say to the person's face that you are talking about is totally correct. I applaud you.
Daniel Pearle is the Poster Boy for the truth that you cannot "rise above" this fight. Pick a side.
I personally mourn his loss and respect him as unique human being. Those who murdered him have no idea of the depth of his humanity.
I think Vice President Cheney's remarks were made in respect to Danny's family. Dick Cheney is a sincere and kind human being.
My sincerest condolences on his senseless death, and wishes for a future free of the hatred perpetrated by the killers.
Shalom
Americans are good and decent people at heart. Mr. Pearl's family is part of our better angels.
Point well taken. We often state our opinions openly, without realizing we don't have all the facts.
Can we still say nasty things about the kennedy family?
May God bless the Pearl family!
And if some here were overly quick on the trigger, that is understandable in view of what happened with Nick Berg's father.
Other people read FR, thank goodness. But that calls for a high level of propriety. IMO
Dr. Pearl, we are so sorry for your loss. Your family and your son's soul are in our prayers. Please forgive stupid statements that might have been made by some on this site. We are in this war together and we will only win it together.
I am lucky enough to have had (indirect) personal contacts with Dick Cheney, along with getting to shake his hand at a 2000 rally. I believe that he is a class act, as well.
I'm betting that the Vice President won't mention Daniel Pearl in a partisan context again, no matter how apt. That is a shame because the message is true and important, but, the wishes of his family should be respected.
As a separate topic, I take to heart the admonition to Freepers. Beyond the trolls and the DUmmies, there are also unthinking posts by the 'good guys' all too often. I'm certainly guilty of getting too involved in one on one "battles" with others I disagree with and may have easily gone too far given the incredibly broad audience who does read this board. I know it won't last, since I'm human too, but I will try to think about this thread before I post a bit more.
My heart goes out to the Pearl family. Every public mention of their beloved son's name has to strike at their very being.
My sister lost a 19 year-old son many years ago. It took her ten years before she could speak his name to others.
Not only should FReepers be more thoughtful of those they speak about here, but so should all public figures. None of us can imagine what the families of our murdered citizens are going through.
Yes, thanks for posting this, and for reminding us that we need to watch what we say.
This is in no way a defense of what happened, but I think people remembered men like Richard Berg's father, who it turns out is not a Bush supporter, using his son's death to spout off against the current administration.
I also agree with you that Cheney is a good-hearted man, as is President Bush.
I appreicate the post. It is great to get the real story. My prayers and thoughts have been with the Pearl Family these many years.
I have asked that in the past. It seems a kind of blasphemy for some people to spell the name of God completely. Someone gave me a good, lengthy description once but it is lost in the mists of many posts.
It is out of respect and a certain religiousity. It might be a Jewish thing...?
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