Posted on 03/23/2006 6:33:31 AM PST by SittinYonder
Statement By Christian Peacemaker Teams
Our hearts are filled with joy today as we heard that Harmeet Singh Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember have been safely released in Baghdad. Christian Peacemaker Teams rejoices with their families and friends at the expectation of their return to their loved ones and community.
"Together we have endured uncertainty, hope, fear, grief and now joy during the four months since they were abducted in Baghdad.
We rejoice in the return of Harmeet Sooden. He has been willing to put his life on the line to promote justice in Iraq and Palestine as a young man newly committed to active peacemaking.
We rejoice in the return of Jim Loney. He has cared for the marginalized and oppressed since childhood, and his gentle, passionate spirit has been an inspiration to people near and far.
We rejoice in the return of Norman Kember. He is a faithful man, an elder and mentor to many in his 50 years of peacemaking, a man prepared to pay the cost.
We remember with tears Tom Fox, whose body was found in Baghdad on March 9, 2006, after three months of captivity with his fellow peacemakers. We had longed for the day when all four men would be released together.
"Our gladness today is made bittersweet by the fact that Tom is not alive to join in the celebration. However, we are confident that his spirit is very much present in each reunion.
Harmeet, Jim and Norman and Tom were in Iraq to learn of the struggles facing the people in that country. They went, motivated by a passion for justice and peace to live out a nonviolent alternative in a nation wracked by armed conflict.
"They knew that their only protection was in the power of the love of God and of their Iraqi and international co-workers.
"We believe that the illegal occupation of Iraq by Multinational Forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and suffering in Iraq. The occupation must end.
Today, in the face of this joyful news, our faith compels us to love our enemies even when they have committed acts which caused great hardship to our friends and sorrow to their families.
"In the spirit of the prophetic nonviolence that motivated Jim, Norman, Harmeet and Tom to go to Iraq, we refuse to yield to a spirit of vengeance.
We give thanks for the compassionate God who granted our friends courage and who sustained their spirits over the past months.
"We pray for strength and courage for ourselves so that, together, we can continue the nonviolent struggle for justice and peace.
Throughout these difficult months, we have been heartened by messages of concern for our four colleagues from all over the world. We have been especially moved by the gracious outpouring of support from Muslim brothers and sisters in the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
"That support continues to come to us day after day.
We pray that Christians throughout the world will, in the same spirit, call for justice and for respect for the human rights of the thousands of Iraqis who are being detained illegally by the U.S. and British forces occupying Iraq.
During these past months, we have tasted of the pain that has been the daily bread of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Why have our loved ones been taken? Where are they being held? Under what conditions? How are they? Will they be released? When?
With Toms death, we felt the grief of losing a beloved friend. Today, we rejoice in the release of our friends Harmeet, Jim and Norman. We continue to pray for a swift and joyful homecoming for the many Iraqis and internationals who long to be reunited with their families.
"We renew our commitment to work for an end to the war and the occupation of Iraq as a way to continue the witness of Tom Fox. We trust in Gods compassionate love to show us the way.
Living through the many emotions of this day, we remain committed to the words of Jim Loney, who wrote:
"With Gods abiding kindness, we will love even our enemies. With the love of Christ, we will resist all evil. With Gods unending faithfulness, we will work to build the beloved community."
March 23, 2006
Ingrates.
This statement is a slap in the face to the American and British forces who rescued these fools. Hopefully they've learned enough now to stay away from places where they don't belong.
No kidding. I don't wish anyone harm, but sometimes I question whether or not these people are actually hostages or active partners with these people for the publicity. When you go to a war zone of your own free will, you take your chances.
Idiots...but....the good, and God, doth love fools.
In case these MORONS didn't notice it, it was the MILITARY who rescued them. With this kind of response, I don't really think we should have bothered.
These idiots consider their rescuers to be their enemies, and their captors who murdered their friend to be their comrads.
I understand what you mean, but of these four, the one who took the bullet in the head would have been a very dedicated active partner.
I doubt this was a publicity stunt.
Hypocrites. They refused to blame the terrorist kidnappers because they thought fixing blame was counterproductive to peace. After there guys are released, the first thing they do is blame the people who rescued them.
They would rather Saddam Hussien was still running his petty tyranny, torturing civilians, and crueling punishing the innocent.
These people were let go...and the American was killed for being American. Food for thought.
Hopefully, many will read this statement...and reflect about how idiotic these people are.
Exactly. From their statement:
"They knew that their only protection was in the power of the love of God and of their Iraqi and international co-workers.
I don't dispute that God was looking out for them, for probably just the reason you suggested, but they've completely ignored and went out of their way to insult the tool God used.
This is despicable and unChristisan like behavior.
Some people are hopelessly blind to reality.
Once again soldiers risk their lives to rescue these dozy sods:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4837602.stm
From 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. it was the schools; from 9-10 it's hippies calling themselves Christians, so here's a ping ... just to let you know what I'm angry about this hour.
Maybe we should pray for them?
Useful idiots, as Lenin would say. I woudn't be surprised if these hypocrites go right back to Iraq and end up kidnapped again.
If they had been captive in China or No Korea I'd be betting that they had been injected with brainwashing drugs and conditioned prior to their release.
"clowns for christ"
Right, which makes one wonder if they are truly Christians...or only beleive that they are.
They have to ask themselves...in this case, exactly, "who" was the hand of God in their rescue...and they'll have their answer as to which side is "ride".
Sadly, they should know...the good guys never put a bullet in the head of an innocent...just "because". You think they would know that.
So, they're ungrateful morons, which the world is full of.
Pray for them to get a clue.
you call that a 'resue? They weren't hostages. There wasn't a terrorist near the place. They were not tied up, they could have gotten up and left anytime they wanted to. It a SCAM! The fact that troops risked their lives for these scum irks me.
Yep.
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