Afghans sheltered SEAL from Taliban

CNN ^ | 11 July 2005

[Echo Talon]

You hear about Iraqis beating them to death when they can get them alone. There was also a story the other day of the village taking a couple of them down and hanging them.

GOOD NEWS!

[patriciaruth]

I've heard your tag line before. However, I can't readily find it in my Bible.

Could you provide the Gospel, chapter and verse?

[Mylo]

Luke 22:36

31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you[a] as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

35Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?"
"Nothing," they answered.

36He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."

38The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords."
"That is enough," he replied.

[patriciaruth]

You know, I think many religions go through phases where they become a state religion and the reigning powerful ones use the religion as one of many tools to retain power.

Or radicals can use a religion to inflame people to follow them and thus gain power.

Christianity, of course, went through that in Europe and various European powers tried to use it to control their colonies around the world.

I believe Islam is going through a phase, too. And it is greatly hoped that the power struggles going on in that part of the world will not result in success for those who are trying to use a radicalized Islam to gain the accendency.

I sometimes wonder when our President says "religion of peace" if he isn't so much stating a reality as trying to encourage a more levelheaded segment of Islam to make that a reality.

[Mylo]

King James version:

Luke 22:36

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

[Mylo]

It is inaccurate to say it is a religion of peace. It is a religion of submission. That is what Islam means, literally, submission. Once you submit there may be peace.

For myself I will never submit to anyone's religion, for I have sworn to protect and defend the Constitution and it says I have freedom of conscience.

[Cultural Jihad]

Afghan villagers sheltered a U.S. Navy SEAL wounded in a battle last month with the Taliban until they could get word to American forces to rescue him . . .

May the anti-Islam bigots be ashamed, if they could.

[Mylo]

They have no shame. And no religion other than "Kill the infidel". A shame really, that they hate what they most resemble.

[patriciaruth]

the disciples of Christ carried swords

Mylo has found the Scripture that pertains to this and it indicates that there were only two swords purchased and only for a special occasion to fulfill a prophesy.

Generally the disciples did not have swords.

Luke 22: 36-38 as well as your Matthew 26: 51-52 discuss this.

[Cultural Jihad]

A shame really, that they hate what they most resemble.

So the anti-Islam bigots are like the Taliban, eh?

[k2blader]

Praise the Lord, BUMP!

[patriciaruth]

It is inaccurate to say it is a religion of peace. It is a religion of submission.

Yes, but realities sometimes can change. To paraphrase Archimedes ...if you have a fixed point to rest a fulcrum, you can move the World.

[Let's Roll]

Well, you've shown loyalty and initiative ...

[Mylo]

Indeed, Christ said "he who lives by the sword shall surely die by the sword".

They had no swords until Jesus said that a man without a sword should sell his cloak to buy one. Then two were purchased in this manner. When the soldiers of the priest came Peter cut one's ear with one of the purchased swords causing Jesus to tell Peter to put it away, and that "he who lives by the sword shall surely die by the sword". Jesus would not resist arrest, but if not for the swords who knows what the priests soldiers would have done to his disciples (he feared not for himself, and would not have his disciples fail to "render unto Cesar"; i.e. 'obey the law'- therefore the swords were so that Jesus and his disciples would be 'among the lawless' as prophesied, or for self defense if the soldiers went beyond the law).

Moreover Jesus said he would speak in parables, and this is my favorite one "He without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one". Notice that he doesn't say your shoes or your bread or any other thing. My interpretation of the parable is that Jesus is saying it is better to be defenseless before the elements (without a cloak) than defenseless before your fellow men (without a sword).

[A_perfect_lady]

THIS is why I get so upset at FReepers who say that we need to declare war against all Islam. Gee, there is only a BILLION of them, and guys like these in Afghanistan, voters in Iraq, protester in Iran, agitators in Egypt, demonstrators in Lebanon; are at least partially ON OUR SIDE.

I bet you get flamed to a crisp for saying this. But you're right.

[righttackle44]

God bless 'em. Love to hear these kinds of
stories.

[marty60]

Really, they are going to need it, when the Taliban gets wind of this.

[Cultural Jihad]

A shame really, that they hate what they most resemble.

Indeed, I have seen Taliban-like anti-Muslim bigots here who have called for deporting all Americans of the Islamic faith. I haven't heard them call for the chopping off of any hands which hold a Koran or the searing of any tongue which utters God's name, but I wouldn't put it past them.

[Mylo]

Well thank you very much for saying so. I prefer being told I'm right more than being told I'm handsome. ;) The flames come, but I never back down for believing what I believe, I don't cry foul when invectives fly, I try to argue the facts, cite the quotes, and if in desperate need- give the opinions of learned heads.

As far as the War on Terror, there is definitely a smart way and a not so smart way to do this. The smart move is NOT to cede to the enemy, as your opening gambit, ONE BILLION people. President George W. Bush is exactly right when he says that the way to win this is by changing the Middle East from backwaters of despotism to the frontier of freedom. This vision is so in keeping with the American ideals of our founders and their vision of Inalienable Rights, and man's natural yearning to be free.

Why NOT harness the most powerful force in human history? It is not terror. That is the failed tactic and a failed ideology of our foes. Freedom is the most powerful force in human history. Freedom is the "bomb" we should drop on Mecca, and Damascus, and Cairo, and Baghdad, and Kabul, and Tehran, and........

[Dinsdale]

I'm wondering if the Afghan villagers will face reprisal because of this. It's world news now.

I'm woundering if the SEAL did'nt survive on his own, perhaps having to hide from the villagers.

Getting the taliban to kill their own would be nice.