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Forgiving the unforgivable (Michael Berg forgives Zarqawi for hacking off his sons head)
The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | May 1, 2006

Posted on 04/30/2006 10:19:15 AM PDT by jmc1969

Michael Berg has come to terms with his son's murderer. But to most Americans that man is still enemy No.1, writes Martin Daly in New York.

In the darkness, when the pain becomes too great, Michael Berg pulls out a chair for the man who decapitated his son and talks to him about compassion and forgiveness.

Michael Berg has cried publicly many times for his dead son but he has forgiven Zarqawi, considered by the Americans to be the premier threat to peace in Iraq, but who remains free despite a $US25 million ($33 million) bounty on his head, and the huge numbers of personnel and technological resources being used to track him down.

In offering forgiveness to a man who this week told the world he planned to continue killing, Berg has had to go down dark, complex paths and has had to come to terms with an horrendous loss that has become public property.

(Excerpt) Read more at smh.com.au ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: beheading; bipolar; bizarre; certifiable; checkupfromneckup; coocooforcocoapuffs; crackpot; crazy; forgiveness; hostages; insane; iraq; lunacy; manic; manicepisode; mentalillness; michaelberg; nickberg; nuts; offhismeds; seekhelpmrberg; zarqawi
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To: mcvey
Good comment.

This guy fails to confront the truth.

That his son died at the hands of monsters he publicly defended as being patriots fighting for for freedom.

He also proclaimed that American foreign policy was wrong.

This guy deserves not to be in any congress especially the United States congress.
181 posted on 04/30/2006 10:55:03 PM PDT by OKIEDOC (There's nothing like hearing someone say thank you for your help.)
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To: wardaddy; Lurker
"I'm quite capable of killing someone without anger"

That is exactly the metal state you SHOULD be in, if you have a killing on the agenda.

The most proficient and successful "killers", never got angry at Charlie or the NVA. It was a simple Alpha dog competition for the right survive and to piss on the trees.

Anger can be a dangerous distraction and judgment damaging influence...

Semper Fi

182 posted on 04/30/2006 11:10:51 PM PDT by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: jmc1969
From the article:

Instead, he says to Zarqawi that if he had been non-violent, he "would have been marching with him to the sea, or would have been with him on the Freedom Train, because I think what al-Qaeda, what the Iraqi people, what the Palestinian people want, and what the people in the Middle East want, is just what every other human being wants: self-determination and freedom from abuse."

Cindy, we've found someone who shows even more contempt for his dead son than you show for yours.

183 posted on 04/30/2006 11:25:01 PM PDT by TChad
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To: jmc1969

Disgusting, but this guy isn't the first to go for the gold by stepping over their dead child.


184 posted on 04/30/2006 11:51:42 PM PDT by MissAmericanPie
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To: Lurker
John 20:23

If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

==================================

Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

185 posted on 05/01/2006 2:41:08 AM PDT by Manic_Episode (Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps...)
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To: Sam Hill

Wow! You're right.

In the AAR that I posted, we were able to ID Michael Berg, but I did not know who Jihad Cindy was at the time.

The public marketing of quisling grief.


186 posted on 05/01/2006 4:50:36 AM PDT by sauropod (Gael Murphy calls Kristinn her very own "teddy bear")
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To: Lurker
I once worked with a guy who had been a sniper in the Vietnam War. He was a fun afficianado, and had killed a man at seventeen who was trying to rob the gas sstation where he worked. The man later became President of a steel company. I always thought a sniper would make the perfect corporate executive. (Although I liked him, and he is still a friend)

But, to the point. When courting his wife, his prospective in-laws were dead set against him. They wondered what would happen to her if he lost his temper with all his guns around. As he told me, "Chesley, I could never shoot someone I was mad at. How could you live with yourself if you killed someone in a fit of anger? You need to know what you're doing, and why."
187 posted on 05/01/2006 5:53:21 AM PDT by chesley (Liberals...what's not to loathe?)
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To: darkangel82

On the other hand, we don't want control of congress to pass to the Dhimmicrats. Vote for the RINO in the general election.


188 posted on 05/01/2006 5:56:40 AM PDT by chesley (Liberals...what's not to loathe?)
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To: jmc1969

And he was a public school teacher.


189 posted on 05/01/2006 5:58:06 AM PDT by Tribune7
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To: chesley
Hi Chesley-

"...He was a fun afficianado, and had killed a man at seventeen who was trying to rob the gas station where he worked..."


What is a fun afficianado? How does it relate to his shooting and killing the robber as a teenager and subsequently becoming a Vietnam-era sniper and steel executive? It's possible I'm obtuse and just not following your meaning!

~ Blue Jays ~

190 posted on 05/01/2006 7:25:52 AM PDT by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
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To: Blue Jays
Sorry, it was a typo. Thanks for letting me know. A 'gun' aficionado was what I meant.
191 posted on 05/01/2006 8:18:02 AM PDT by chesley (Liberals...what's not to loathe?)
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To: Mr. Mojo
"Offering forgiveness to an unrepentant murderer is a fool's move."

And the Cross of Christ is foolishness. We are supposed to forgive unconditionally.

During the Spanish Civil War, many priests shot by firing squad were found with bullet holes in their right hands as well as their bodies. They were blessing the men who killed them.

I don't know Mr. Berg's faith, but I do know forgiveness is a virtue we can practice.
192 posted on 05/01/2006 8:42:39 AM PDT by GAB-1955 (being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the Kingdom of Heaven....)
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To: GAB-1955

I guess a lot of it depends on the definition of 'forgiveness'.

Christ offered it to all men, but not all men accept it. In the Last Judgment, these men will not avoid the punishment they have earned. And Christ, Himself, will be the one who pronounces the sentence upon them.


193 posted on 05/01/2006 9:05:11 AM PDT by chesley (Liberals...what's not to loathe?)
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To: chesley
Hi chesley-

OK, thanks, that clarification makes it much clearer. I thought you were saying your friend was generally a lighthearted kind of person, aside from the stressful things he had experienced in his life.

~ Blue Jays ~

194 posted on 05/01/2006 9:15:09 AM PDT by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
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To: Blue Jays

You're welecome. Sorry, it was my screwup.


195 posted on 05/01/2006 9:26:59 AM PDT by chesley (Liberals...what's not to loathe?)
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To: jmc1969
And this fool is running for Congress.

Campaign slogan: If he thinks it's okay to murder his own son, what will he okay for yours...

196 posted on 05/01/2006 9:33:10 AM PDT by Sal (Once you know they sold USA out to Red China, what do you think they would NOT do?)
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To: Raycpa

Where does the man ask for forgiveness?

Luke 23:40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[a]"

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking, but you seem to be implying that the thief was forgiven even though he never asked to be forgiven. Therefore, God (or whomever) can forgive a murdering Muslim even thought he doesn't ask for forgivenenss. Is this your arguement? I can certainly answer, but I want to make sure I answer what you are asking. For now, I'll assume this is your assertion and go ahead and answer. If I have not understood your question you can object and I'll try again.

In Matthew 28 we are told how Jesus was mocked and reviled, not unlike many treat Him today. In 28:44 we are told that the robbers who were crucified with Him 'also reviled Him in the same way.' Yet in Luke 23 we see one of the robbers suddenly sided with Jesus, declared his own guilt and confessed that Jesus had done nothing wrong. What's going on? At some point during the crucifixion, the robber was regenerated and given the gift of faith, his understanding was opened and he recognized the truth about what was going on and was made able to confess the truth about Christ and himself. In other words, the thief came to faith, he was converted. One of the results of faith is justification, the forgiveness of sin. This is an example of justification by faith, justification includes forgiveness.

The thief did the work of the Father which is this "...that you believe in Him whom He [the Father] sent." John 6:28.

The thief on the cross demonstrates salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone. Lest any man should boast. To those of you who are certain that this is wrong and that you must supply works of righteousness which God will graciously accept, I point you to Matthew 7:21-23, and remind you that the will of the Father in Heaven is stated in John 6:28.

If a murdering Muslim confesses his guilt, as the thief did, and repents of his rejection of Jesus, as the thief did, and does the work that the Father gives us to do, as the thief did, then the Muslim will be forgiven (and of course he will no longer be a Muslim). Otherwise he will die in his sins.



197 posted on 05/02/2006 12:15:00 PM PDT by vigilo (Everything I needed to know about George Bush and the Republican Party I learned from CFR.)
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To: vigilo

So your saying its implied that he asked for forgiveness, not explicit?


198 posted on 05/02/2006 12:38:53 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: Raycpa

"So your saying its implied that he asked for forgiveness, not explicit?"

Not quite, I'm saying that he was justified by faith, like all who believe, and that part of justification is the forgiveness of sin. See Romans 4:3-8. Note that forgiveness, the covering of sin and the none imputation of sin are discussed within the context of Abraham being accounted as righteous because he believed God. The forgiveness of sin is part of the justification that happens when we believe. This is how the thief was saved and why Jesus told him he [the theif] would be with Him in paradise. This is the Gospel.


199 posted on 05/02/2006 2:19:58 PM PDT by vigilo (Everything I needed to know about George Bush and the Republican Party I learned from CFR.)
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To: vigilo
So contrary to what you or another poster said, asking for forgiveness is not a prerequisite to be forgiven but a consequence.

I could have used any number of other verses where Jesus forgave sins when he wasn't asked to.
200 posted on 05/02/2006 4:10:39 PM PDT by Raycpa
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