I actually think the AP is more upset than many Muslims.
After WW2 general McArthur wanted 1,000 missionaries as soon as possible in Japan.
I used to suggest that maybe giving out "Chick" type tract showing where suicide bombers really go after the die - and how to really live thru Jesus instead - would both be a deterrent and means of salvation to many.
Inappropriate conduct? I have to say, it took guts.
No he isn't. From the article: "Sunni officials and residents said a Marine distributed about 10 coins at a checkpoint controlling access to the city, the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the war."
Among other things he is violating a direct order and in deriliction of his duties at the checkpoint. He is endangering the lives of his fellow soldiers, and stirring up local resentment when the strategy in place is to work with the local populace to ensure peace, stability and transition to Iraqi control [and hopefully, when appropriate American withdrawal].
Ill considered acts like these undermine the work and sacrifice of everyone who is serving, everyone who has given life and limb, and the American public who are paying for this.
A warrior preaching the teachings of Jesus to conquered people.
There is some irony obvious here. Can’t quite pinpoint it yet..
I sympathize with him, and I wish we would do more to encourage conversions in Iraq, instead of sitting on our hands while the Muslims there kill and drive out the remaining Christians in their country.
But I also agree that when you are in the military, you have to obey orders.
Maybe it could be justified when he was off duty, but I’m not sure if you can really be off duty in what amounts to a war zone.
Sorry to disagree. While I don’t know the guy, and give him all the credit in the world for serving, what he did is just stupid.
In an area where people kill over stuff like that, I can’t imagine his fellow Marines thought that was a good idea.
If he wants to do that, let him serve his tour of duty, get out, and go back over as a missionary. That would take guts.
What he did was paint a target on himself and his buddies.
I don’t doubt this young man’s courage or conviction, I doubt his commonsense and consideration for those serving around him.
The greatest form of courage I can think of was practiced by Jacob DeShazer, one of the Doolittle Raiders captured by the Japanese in 1942. They treated him as a war criminal until he was repatriated, and ended up going back to Japan as a missionary. See the link at:
http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/deshazer.htm
To have the courage and conviction to bury your hatred for your foe, must be one of the most difficult forms of practicing what you preach, especially after what he went through.
That he went back to attempt to spread the word of God to the Japanese is simply staggering. But it was his choice to do so. He was no longer in the military.
A Soldier or Marine who cannot obey that order has no business being in uniform.
It seems the Iraqis don’t have a problem with all the hundreds of BILLIONS of CHRISTIAN dollars we have given and continue to give them.
All those dollars have a big fat picture of a.... CHRISTIAN AMERICAN right in the middle of them.