Forgive the terrorists?

Jewish World Review ^ | 9/9/2011 | Rabbi Benjamin Blech

[Former Fetus]

G-d, I need your guidance. I grieve for all the victims of September 11th. My heart is filled with pain, and with anger at the terrorists responsible for the horrible crimes committed on that day. But I know that you teach us to forgive those who sin. In the Bible you often tell us that you are a G-d who is slow to anger, merciful and forgiving. We are supposed to imitate you and adopt Your behavior as guidelines for our own personal conduct. Does that really mean that no matter how difficult it is, I have to tell myself to forgive all those who turned the twin towers into a mass graveyard? Am I guilty of failing my spiritual obligations if I'm not willing to respond to terrorism with love and forgiveness? G-d, how far does clemency go? In the name of religion, must I be prepared to pardon even those who committed murder?

Forgiveness is a divine trait. It defines the goodness of G-d. Without it human beings probably couldn't survive. Because G-d forgives, there's still hope for sinners. When we do wrong, G-d reassures us he won't abandon us as a result of our transgressions. Divine forgiveness is the quality that most clearly proves G-d's love for us.

That's why the many passages in the Bible that affirm G-d's willingness to forgive our sins are so important. They comfort us and they fill us with confidence. We know none of us are perfect. If we would be judged solely on our actions we would surely all fall short. Thank G-d the heavenly court isn't that strict. We can rest assured, as the prophet Isaiah told us in the name of the Lord, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

[Former Fetus]

Excellent article, thought provoking, a must-read as we approach the 9-11 anniversary.

[Little Ray]

You’re not required to forgive people who are STILL trying to kill you and destroy your nation.

Alternately, you can send some “forgiveness” along with the ordnance that kills them.

[PieterCasparzen]

The person who dies an unrepentant sinner is eternally doomed.

The pitiful terrorists, like all other immoral people, are ultimately doomed.

There but for the Grace of God go I.

According to God’s will, sinners are drawn to him and repent.

Those who are facing the prospect of an attack with deadly force, however, have a God-given right of self-defense, even a responsibility to defend themselves and others.

[Joe Boucher]

Forgive the terrorists?
Listen, my nephew is in Arlington, a Marine Lieutenant killed in Fallujah.
Forgive? How about exterminating their families and grounding their homes in to dust.
Moms, dads, sisters brothers wives and children, dogs and cats, even their goldfish.
Make an example, ANYONE does this again to the great peril of their families along with the terrorists themselves and this crap will stop real quik.

[Claud]

Sorry for your loss.

I think it’s important to understand the difference between forgiving and relaxing punishment. They are quite separate. I always forgive my son when he does wrong....he still gets punished though. We may forgive terrorists, but we still prosecute war against the responsible parties as part of the punishment. That’s how I see it anyway.

[aruanan]

I think it’s important to understand the difference between forgiving and relaxing punishment. They are quite separate. I always forgive my son when he does wrong....he still gets punished though. We may forgive terrorists, but we still prosecute war against the responsible parties as part of the punishment. That’s how I see it anyway.

If you forgive someone something done against you, you take the loss on yourself without recompense from the other party. Like Jesus said, if someone strikes you on one cheek, turn the other one. He didn't say, "Exact retribution, ie, punishment, and then turn the other cheek." See also his parable about the manager who was forgiven his debt. He wasn't "forgiven" but still punished. It was after he wouldn't let other people off for what he himself was let off that the master tracked him down and thoroughly beat the crap out of him. To forgive someone is to completely forgo any kind of punishment of him at all, though Someone Else could take the punishment on himself.

While we may have a moral obligation individually to suffer evil without returning retribution, we don't have that option when others in our care are threatened. We're not obligated to forgive offenses against them on their behalf but obligated to whack the malefactors if we're unable to stop them to begin with.

[Joe Boucher]

That is all well and good against folks who share your Christian values.
You keep turning the other cheek towards muslims trying to kill us all simply for being Christian or Jew and you will be dead.
There is the American way of lets see what we’ve done to make these centurys old killers mad at us or we can make examples of those who do this.
I’m a Christian but honest mister if you hit me in the side of my head I’m coming after your ass.

[Former Fetus]

The comments that have been posted make me think that y’all have NOT read the article! Nobody is defending letting the terrorists “get away with it”. In fact, in his conclusion, the rabbi suggested that only those killed on 9-11 would have the moral authority to forgive the terrorists! We sure don’t, even if we were crazy enough to want to do so. Please, read the article before making comments!!!

[tarotsailor]

Our nation’s first encounter was with the Barbary Pirates over two hundred years ago...they preyed on Christian merchant ships in the name of allah and jihad, too...slaughtering Christians and selling the survivors as slaves. I think in two hundred years of dealing with these murderers, we’ve run out of cheeks.

I’m too lazy to Google so I’ll paraphrase.

ST. PAUL: Do not fear the man who bears the sword, for he is a minister for your good. But if you do evil, beware; for he does not bear the sword for nothing.

KING DAVID: Blessed are You, O GOD, for You have taught my hands how to war, and even my fingers, how to fight.

Amen.

[Claud]

I’m not sure that is exactly correct, aruanan, unless I misinterpret you.

We have an obligation in justice to punish evildoers. It’s part of the virtue of charity. If someone beats me up, I may forgive him, but the man still has to be tried in a court of law. Because he has offended in two ways—against me personally and against society generally. The man who “forgives” by letting a guilty person skate is committing an uncharity against society.

[patriot08]

The Obama White House is behind a cynical, coldly calculated political effort to erase the meaning of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from the American psyche and convert Sept. 11 into a day of leftist celebration and statist idolatry.

Our voices need to be heard not only at Town Hall sessions or Tea Party demonstrations but in the very halls of Congress. We have to speak out to stop the desecration of September 11th.

NEVER FORGET

"Every 'moderate' Muslim is a potential terrorist. The belief in Islam is like a tank of gasoline. It looks innocuous, until it meets the fire. For a 'moderate' Muslim to become a murderous jihadist, all it takes is a spark of faith.

It is time to put an end to the charade of “moderate Islam.” There is no such thing as moderate Muslim. Muslims are either jihadists or dormant jihadists – moderate, they are not."

Ali Sini

Ali Sini is head of Faith Freedom International. FFI is a grassroots worldwide movement of ex-Muslims and all those who are concerned about the rise of the Islamic threat.

Faith Freedom International Forums ______________________________________________

NEVER FORGET

Watch 'Remembering 9/11' on the Geographic Channel. 'Inside 9/11: Zero Hour'- EXCELLENT.

Also, on TLC, 'Heros of the 88th Floor', 9PM CST Sat 9/10/11

_______________

Watch this moving video. It is the most viewed of any of the 9/11 videos and is now in the Smithsonian.

Be sure to read (at the site) Anatomy Of The Attack and the moving essay,’That Day’ by Steve Golding, a New Yorker who lived through it.