Forgiving the unforgivable (Michael Berg forgives Zarqawi for hacking off his sons head)

The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | May 1, 2006

[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.

[MineralMan]

From later in the article:

"He is the No.1 symbol of what Americans should fear and because we fear him, we should turn over all our rights and support the war," says Berg, who blames George Bush as much as anyone for the death of his son because he started and perpetuated the war. But he has, he says, forgiven Bush too."

[null and void]

You said that much bettter than I managed.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

You must not be a parent.

One must forgive or go mad from hate.

If you can forgive and then have the will to vilify those who fight this monster, you are mad. Perhaps, after a period of grief, Mr. Berg could reclaim his sanity by serving to rally against those monsters. I think your choice of forgiveness or else madness is an unnecessary limited choice. I say that as a parent.

[Manic_Episode]

Yeah, it sounds like Berg has taken up Zarqawis cause.

I had no idea.

[pax_et_bonum]

You can accept reality and live with it, make your peace with life or what have you without forgiving...but the son is the one who took the ultimate loss, not the father. The murderer has not served his punishment either so why even think of forgiving him?

As a mother, I know that the "ultimate loss" would be losing a child, not being murdered.

This father has suffered the ultimate loss.

[P-40]

This father has suffered the ultimate loss.

But the father still has his life; the son does not. He cannot forgive for his son; the son is dead and only the son can forgive for his death. The killer has also not asked for anyone's forgiveness so none is due.

[Lakeshark]

His present, ongoing bitterness and statements about Bush bely the reality of any real forgiveness. When Mr. Berg stops his bitter statments and finger pointing at someone who had nothing to do with it, I'll listen.

Nothing wrong with true forgiveness. Don't misunderstand, I am not saying that. I simply don't believe from his actions that Mr. Berg has that kind of strength, has actually forgiven anyone, rather he is using it as a foil to demonstrate a false front in his small, bitter political war against the President.

[VeniVidiVici]

I am commenting solely on his stated forgiveness of the man who killed his son.

But yet nowhere in the article did it state what his beliefs or his religion is and yet you commented on that.

I think it's quite common knowledge what his opinion of the President is, and for him to publicy forgive Zarqawi is the height of hypocracy and smacks of a public relations stunt.

[Darnright]

>"He is the No.1 symbol of what Americans should fear and because we fear him, we should turn over all our rights and support the war," says Berg, who blames George Bush as much as anyone for the death of his son because he started and perpetuated the war. But he has, he says, forgiven Bush too.<

You can't have it both ways. The article uses present tense, above, then goes on to say Berg has forgiven Bush.

I will reserve judgement. I bet, in the future, we'll see Berg railing out at Bush.

[Popman]

The man is either a coward or mentally deranged.

After reading the article, mentally deranged comes to mind.

I can not imagine his grief, so he must have gone over the edge.

[hosepipe]

Private forgiveness is wise, public forgiveness is propaganda..

[ChiMark]

Mr. Berg has made his son's death a public issue. He is using this as an anti American platform. I'll hold him and his ilk accountable for prolonging this war against the U.S. I cannot forgive him or his son for being traitors. For every soldier killed I'll hang that on the heads of these weenies. His grief is his own not for the public.

[ExcursionGuy84]

...so why even think of forgiving him?

Because JESUS commands us to.

[Lakeshark]

Private forgiveness is wise, public forgiveness is propaganda..

Well said.

[af_vet_1981]

He forgives Zarqawi and blames President Bush. He is possessed by an evil spirit.

[Manic_Episode]

With all due respect, you sir, are an idiot.

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

Perhaps so, but if my son were killed by this SOB I would be so overcome with grief that my only choice would be to turn the entire situation over to God, or madness would ensue.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

That being said, if that SOB Zarqawi were here right now I would kill him with my bare hands and it would be Gods wrath and not revenge for me.

[P-40]

Because JESUS commands us to.

Jesus did not say to give blind forgiveness to everyone; you have to *ask* for forgiveness and be willing to accept punishment. Jesus was really cool on letting things slide, but he was not a complete pacifist.

[goldstategop]

A Jew is forbidden to grant absolution to a murderer - especially a mass murderer. Michael Berg is a moral idiot.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[Bob]

Remember Berg went to give aid and comfort to the enemy. As far as I'm concerned his father is a traitor too.

If I'm not mistaken, Berg's son was over there working as a contractor on reconstruction projects, not 'giving aid and comfort to the enemy'.

This guy reminds me a lot of jihad cindy al'sheehan. I consider each of them a disgrace to their sons' honorable lives.

[BruceysMom]

They beheaded the wrong Berg. This one has already lost his. Where is Dr. Laura when you need her?