Photo by: VICTOR JUNCO Rose and Haven Whiteside were at Hyde Park United Methodist church attending a Wednesday night prayer service in the chapel. The retired couple will be taking their message of peace to the people of Iraq
Posted on 12/25/2003 7:04:57 PM PST by Holly_P
TAMPA - As families celebrate Christmas today in churches, at dinner tables and around brightly decorated trees, Rose and Haven Whiteside will be flying toward Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. ``Maybe we'll see the star,'' Rose Whiteside, 71, says with a half-smile. ``That would make it some Christmas, wouldn't it?''
The final destination for this semiretired couple from Tampa is Baghdad, Iraq, where they will spend five weeks seeking the true meaning of Christmas - peace on Earth and goodwill toward men.
They go to Iraq with just one carry-on each as volunteer reservists for the Christian Peacemaker Teams. And they go at a time when the Department of State continues to issue strong warnings to U.S. citizens against travel to that region.
Their goal: help reunite Iraqis with family members who have been detained in postwar roundups by coalition forces.
They also will document human-rights violations and offer humanitarian assistance to displaced citizens.
Mainly, the Whitesides will be a presence of peace in a country pummeled by war and dominated by a harsh dictatorship, and in a place that faces an uncertain future, despite the recent capture of Saddam Hussein.
``We're not going there to preach or anything like that,'' says Haven Whiteside, 72, whose soft-spoken demeanor complements his wife's more outgoing nature. ``We go there to live a Christian life, and that means following what Jesus said: `Love your enemies.' ''
Through January, home for the Whitesides will be a sparsely furnished apartment maintained by the Christian Peacemaker Teams. The living quarters are outside the protected ``green zone'' secured by the military.
Their pastor isn't surprised by their willingness to follow where the spirit leads them.
``Rose and Haven live with a practical obedience to their understanding of the way and will of Jesus that goes way beyond where most of us normally live,'' says the Rev. Jim Harnish of Hyde Park United Methodist Church. ``The good news is that they are never artificially pious or overbearing about their faithfulness. They just do what they believe Jesus would have them do.''
`You're Stupid!' Son Says
Some friends question their decision to take such a risk, especially at their age and stage in life. One son's immediate reaction came from the gut: ``You're stupid!''
His mother laughs and says she understands.
``You have to answer that call when you get it,'' she says. ``There are so many people who are committed to different things. We have people who are committed to war. Why shouldn't we be committed to peace and be willing to take risks for peace?''
Their spiritual journey began when they married 45 years ago in a Congregational church on the Boston Common. They were unwavering in their Christian faith, but they began questioning their government. In the 1960s, the Whitesides demonstrated against the Vietnam War.
A U.S. naval officer during the Korean War, Haven Whiteside says it wasn't a matter of disrespect. He just became disillusioned by what he perceives as his country's rush to war. He became more vocal on why more priority wasn't put on seeking nonviolent alternatives to peace.
The Whitesides oppose the war but have tremendous respect for the soldiers serving in Iraq. They will be reaching out to them during their mission trip.
``We'll be talking to them on a human level, not a political level, not on a military level,'' he says. ``It helps to put a different tone in the situation.''
With their four adopted children and one foster daughter grown and scattered across the country with their own families, the Whitesides say they now have the time to devote their energies to humanitarian work.
Since the late 1980s, volunteer projects have taken the couple around the world: to Jamaica for a three-year stint with the Peace Corps; to Haiti working in education and health care; to Kentucky with the Christian Appalachian Project; to Honduras to rebuild homes after Hurricane Mitch and to set up and serve a rural medical clinic; to South America twice for two-week projects in Colombia, accompanying peasants to everyday activities as a way to discourage violence.
They Help Locally, Too
Locally, they are equally giving.
They have helped Hyde Park United Methodist qualify as an emergency homeless shelter for the Salvation Army, co- founded a Christian Peacemakers at the church, and work as volunteers for Hands On Tampa and Habitat for Humanity.
To fund their passion for peace, the Whitesides continue to work past retirement age. He's an environmental specialist contract worker for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, issuing permits for docks. She's a registered nurse who works for two home health care agencies.
This latest venture cost them $2,500 each and required them to work long hours before the holidays to earn extra money.
This summer, the Whitesides attended an intense four- week program at Christian Peacemaker Teams' headquarters in Chicago to train as reservists - a step up from their previous roles as short- term volunteers.
They chose this group because they support its approach in promoting nonviolent peacemaking missions as a response to escalating violence around the world. The organization claims about 30 full-time workers and more than 125 reservists from the United States and Canada. Christian Peacemaker Teams has four projects under way - in Iraq, Hebron, Colombia and northern Ontario.
With the Whitesides' long history of working toward peace, ``They're going to be a great asset to the work we're doing there,'' says Clare Evans, personnel and delegation coordinator for the nonprofit group, which is supported by religious denominations, grants and private donations. ``They're a great example how age is not a factor. It's first about living as Jesus calls us, to be peacemakers in the world.''
The Whitesides admit Iraq wasn't their first choice. They had applied for Colombia, without thought of the terrorist threat there. They had been before and befriended people in the village.
When the call came in November that they weren't selected for that project, they admitted they felt dismayed and rejected. The next day, they got an offer they weren't expecting: to serve in Iraq with a half- dozen other workers for Christian Peacemaker Teams.
They had to pray on it.
Faith Wins Over Fear
That Sunday, the Whitesides went to church and heard a sermon by their pastor, urging the congregation to give of themselves. ``If not you, then who?'' Harnish preached. ``If not now, when?''
The message resonated with the couple. Faith won out over fear, and they decided to go to Iraq.
So, once again, they are leaving the comfort of their modest south Tampa home with its lush landscaping and its frontyard sign declaring ``War is Not the Answer'' for another assignment in an uncertain part of the world. Their favorite pastimes of gardening, biking and snorkeling will have to wait.
Haven Whiteside, who has a doctorate in applied physics from Harvard and has worked in research, education and government, explains it this way: ``We have a compassion, and we've been blessed with good health. This isn't for everyone, but it works for us. People approach retirement in all sorts of ways. This is just how we choose to do it.''
Walt Davin, a cytologist from St. Petersburg, understands why the Whitesides feel compelled to risk danger to follow their convictions.
Davin just returned from a trip to Hebron sponsored by Christian Peacemaker Teams this month, where he served on a 12-member delegation that met with Israeli and Palestinian peace and human rights workers.
``Just saying `no' to violence and oppression was not enough for me,'' the 62-year- old says. ``I needed to take the next step.''
Rose Whiteside is ready.
A year ago, with talk of war dominating, she never dreamed she would be heading to Iraq this Christmas. She says it will help her replace an overwhelming sadness brought about by the continuing stories of casualties with a sense of action.
Some friends have asked her how she thinks she can make a difference. She responds by recalling a fable written by Kurt Kauter about two birds, the coalmouse and the dove.
``How much does a snowflake weigh?'' the mouse asked the dove.
``Nothing more than nothing,'' the dove replied.
But then the mouse told of a steady snowfall when 3,741,952 snowflakes settled on the branch of a fir tree. When one more snowflake landed, the branch snapped.
So, the dove concluded, perhaps it will take just one more voice to bring peace to the world.
The Whitesides want to be counted as two voices for peace.
``Aren't we smart enough and powerful enough to do it?'' Rose Whiteside says. ``I believe so.''
Reporter Michelle Bearden talks with the Whitesides at 5:30 p.m. Friday on her ``Keeping the Faith'' segment on WFLA, News Channel 8. She can be reached at (813) 259-7613.
ABOUT THE GROUP
Who Are Christian Peacemakers?
This faith-based ecumenical group is committed to peace by ""Getting in the Way.'' It was started in 1986 by the Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers and is supported by other religious denominations, grants and private donations.
What Does The Group Do? It leads peacemaking activities, including public witness and nonviolent direct action, conflict transformation, negotiation and documentation of human rights violations. It has long-term teams working in Hebron in the West Bank; Baghdad; Barrancabermeja, Columbia; and Grassy Narrows, Ontario.
Those working in other countries pay their own way and are expected to share their experiences with local congregations, groups and media upon return.
Photo by: VICTOR JUNCO Rose and Haven Whiteside were at Hyde Park United Methodist church attending a Wednesday night prayer service in the chapel. The retired couple will be taking their message of peace to the people of Iraq
Of course that would be only those committed by the evil USA forces because everyone knows that we are the only country in the world that commits these types of violations. (sarcasm off)
Of course that would be only those committed by the evil USA forces because everyone knows that we are the only country in the world that commits these types of violations. (sarcasm off)
They block eeeevil Israeli bulldozers with their bodies.
Christians Peacemakers Team based in Hebron, which trains the ISM volunteers.
Where were they reuniting Iraqis with family members who were detained by Saddam and his thugs in pre-war Iraq?
They also will document human-rights violations and offer humanitarian assistance to displaced citizens.
As opposed to doing this while Saddam was still in power? Arent there any dictatorships left in the world where they can do this? I can think of a few.
Does this mean they are prepared to stand up to oppressors? Are they planning to resist violent men? To minister to their victims? Would they try to lead Baathists to Christ?
Do they plan to stop by the gravesites and witness to the families digging the bones of their relatives out of the dirt? Preach Jesus to former secret policemen?
"Christians" who side with mass murderers are becoming such a cliche. Tiresome, banal, cowardly. It takes no courage to stand up to someone who will not hurt you back.
On this Christmas we should recognize that God's servants are the people who kicked in the prison doors.
I say that they will not be begging for U.S. military help............(Kinda hard to beg when you're dead.)
Amen. Who are these people who claim to do the Lord's work when they had no hand in the salvation of the innocent? When they didn't lift a finger or speak a word to end their oppression?
I find these pious gasbags insufferable. Their son is right.
Well, their people are in Hebron in order to protect the poor, helpless, harmless, innocent Palestinians from the nasty, occupying, brutal, bullying Jews (who are doing this, you know, this hurtful, oppressive breathing in and out thing). They trained Rachel Corrie in how to block a bulldozer. This should tell you something about who they think the "oppressed" and the "oppressors" are.
And here is The Tampa Tribune to hype their fantasy of being courageous. They'll be in little danger as long as they are known to be political enemies of George Bush. If they thought that our military actually was as brutal as Saddam's regime, they would be terrified at the thought of doing this.
Hypocrites. I would think that the Iraqi provisional government would take these two in tow, and introduce them to the families of a legion or two of Saddam's victims. Time enough then for them to be introduced to the family of a detainee.
This article was written about my Parents. I was appaled that people who can and do critisize them are the ones who arent over there doing the same thing. We see in the news everyday people who are here at home protesting the war and here are my Parents actually going over there and doing something about it. They were just simple people looking to make a difference for ALL of Gods people. Im personally proud that I was raised by them and knew them for who they really were. My mother was one who believed that one person could make a difference in the lives of everyone they met. My Mother passed away in November of last year and the one thing I carried with me from her Funeral was that she did indeed make a difference. Im just sorry she wasnt able to be with us longer and do more for all those affected by the war. Not just here at home but everywhere. My Father, Haven is carrying on in her memory and soon my Daughter will do the same. Im sorry that people who feel the need to critisize dont see things from both sides. We feel its ok for Soldiers to go there as long as they are killing other people all in the name of peace. Im proud that I have the privilage to call these two extrodinary people my Mother and Father.
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