Posted on 08/27/2006 8:48:04 AM PDT by TaxachusettsMan
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Two FOX News journalists were released by their kidnappers Sunday, nearly two weeks after they were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
Steve Centanni, 60, and Olaf Wiig, 36, left Gaza and have since crossed into Israel after their release. The men left Gaza through the Erez border crossing.
The freeing of Centanni, a correspondent, and Wiig, a cameraman, ends the longest-running drama involving foreign hostages in Gaza.
The two journalists were dropped off at Gaza City's Beach Hotel by Palestinian security officials and appeared to be in good health. A tearful Centanni embraced a Palestinian journalist briefly as he entered, then rushed upstairs as Wiig followed.
Centanni, in a phone interview shortly after his release, said "I'm fine. I'm just so happy to be free."
He recounted how he and Wiig were pulled out of their car on August 14 and taken at gunpoint into another car. The kidnappers blindfolded them and handcuffed their hands behind their backs with plastic ties. They were then transferred to another car and driven to a building that they later learned was a garage.
"We were pushed down onto the dirt-covered concrete floor and we were forced to lie face down with our handcuffs on," Centanni said.
"Olaf was in the same room with me. Our shoulders were wrenched back, very painful."
Both of the men were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint, Centanni said.
"We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint," Centanni told FOX News. "Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn't know what the hell was going on."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
If you care to continue this, let's agree to use "private
reply" or freepmail.
I believe atheists are the majority.
Fox should do a day long special news program on how Islam 'converts' by force and intimidation. How it is not a religion , but a political system focused on putting unquestioned power in to the hands of Muslim men.
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Fox News won't do this because a Saudi prince owns a chunk of the network and calls the shots.
http://thinkprogress.org/2005/12/12/saudi-prince-calls-murdoch/
Plus no one in this country (even the President) with power has the cuts to do this. Our President even thinks Islam is the Religon of Peace. He backed down from his Islamofacist comments like a coward.
Need I say that these are the ONLY circumstances that any sane individual would convert to a religion that worships the god of a schizophrenic pedophile?
According to Dictionary.com, a religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
I fail to see in any sense how Islam embodies no concept of spirituality, especially since Paradise is often mentioned in The Qur'an.
Islam is a system of coercion.
Not according to one of the founders of modern radical Islam - Sayyid Qutb. He felt that warfare was necessary to preserve the message of Islam. He simply wanted the choice to be presented. If people did not convert, he did want them to be coerced. He was satifised with knowing that the message was still in existence.
You may disagree with Islam, but to say it is not a religion is ludicrous.
Coerced faith at gunpoint. What's not to respect?
*gag*
The religion of hell.
There are many details you lack knowledge in concerning Simon Peter.
First off, Peter was not yet converted at the time he denied Christ.
Luke 22:31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Next, after conversion a believer is indwelled with the Holy Spirit and it is by the grace of God alone that we will stand to the end. That is why you see a drastic change in Simon Peter's abilities, ways and determination.
Read Acts 2 to get the full impact of Peter's conversion and subsequent boldness.
Next Jesus is the foundation of the Church..not Simon Peter. It was the truth of Peter's confession that Jesus was the Christ, Messiah, the Son of God that was the "rock" on which Christ would build His Church. That foundation will always be the same and any true Christian will testify that truth, just as Simeon Peter did. (note: Roman Catholics have a different take on Peter building the church, I am not going to argue that point)
13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
14 They said, "Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Don't try to correct it. You got it right the first time.
If Muslims can't learn to get along and play nice with others, their wretched relgion needs to become extinct.
I have to correct it as it is not what I meant to write. It would be factually incorrect to leave the statement in its current form.
Correction:
If people did not convert, he did not want them to be coerced.
I thank you once again for catching that.
By the way, if you want to correct it, it's religion.
The whole wretched lot them is kept under control through the same Qu'ran sanctioned and commanded punishment of death if they ever dare leave its control.
A religion that must keep its "vitality" by threatening to behead those who leave it is a profound disgrace and a wholesale fraud.
Wiig also said he was worried that the kidnapping would scare off reporters.
Are these two Palestinian sympathizers? Notice Centanni doesn't say anything negative about his terrorist kidnappers. They were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint, and he said he has the highest respect for Islam, and learned a lot of good things about it? Is he kidding? He is free now - there is no need to keep concealing his true beliefs unless, he is on their side.
His comment: the Palestinian people are very beautiful and kind hearted. The world needs to know more about them. Don't be discouraged, makes me believe he's on their side and agrees with their cause as well as Wiig who, also indicated:
"My biggest concern really is that as a result of what happened to us foreign journalists will be discouraged from coming to tell the story and that would be a great tragedy for the people of Palestine," Wiig said. "You guys need us on the streets, and you need people to be aware of the story."These two seem more concerned with the Palestinians not being covered by the media than they were concerned about the actions of their kidnappers.
Anyway, I'm glad they are both alive.
Yea, they do. I'm glad they are safe. Pay attention to what they say and do when they get their wits about them again.
I will.
Any religion that has to go door to door for recruits, much less force people to join at gunpoint, is a sham religion.
Mohammed (pus be upon his pedophile butt) founded the most succesful cult in history.
Oh, it's a religion alright.
In the same way that people can mark "Jedi" on their census documents - or belong to the Heaven's Gate club. Islam is one of the most juvenile sets of beliefs this side of the DNC.
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