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 ...
Sounds almost like that little girl at Columbine High School that was asked if she loved Jesus Christ and when she said "Yes" she was killed.
Please see my #96. And no, I will not trade myself for their freedom. Nor, I suspect, would you.
So,,, you will take the mark of the beast as long as it doesn't show?
Try not to read people's hearts -- only God can do that.
So, are you saying the Bible is wrong? You think maybe you have a better book?
"Would I have the courage to do the right thing? I don't know. To date, I haven't been called upon to decide. If I do the cowardly thing, I'm sure I'll be judged, both on earth and in Heaven.
"
It is so easy to judge the actions of others from your comfortable home, sitting in front of your PC, isn't it?
Addressing this to everyone:
Just a brief restatement of my original question:
Have ANY Islamic groups, authorities, representatives . . . hell, individuals . . . come out to:
1) condemn forced conversions?
2) support freedom of religion?
Or are only we Crusaders and Zionists supposed to do that?
Islam is interpreted in different ways by its followers. Sayyid Qutb, an early Muslim radical, felt that war was necessary to ensure the survival of the message of Islam. He wanted people to know that Islam was an option, but if people did not convert, then he did not want their deaths. According to him, if Islam was suppressed, then battle would restore choice (free will).
I also believe that ultimately the planet will win. However, because I am not religious, we may have different meanings for this phrase.
I don't want to use the excuse "Christians did it, too." As true as the statement is, it was centuries ago and is now out of date.
It is my belief that modern Europe is post-Christian. Only two nations in western Europe - Poland and Ireland - have a majority of people attending weekly prayer service. "Christians did it, too", and they did it too much in times past, and the Europeans finally became disillusioned. It'll happen to the Middle East, it just won't be in our lifetimes.
Very good point
You think so?
In that case, he's a very slow learner.
I'm really glad they were freed. I really wish he had not felt compelled to establish his respect for Islam.
I have none myself.
Haven't heard anything yet, except a mullah passing gass. Anyone else hear anything?
Spiritually (and emotionally) immature babes can't help anyone. You embarrass yourself.
There's a lot of "look at how devout I am" posturing going on in these threads. Of course, none of those posting that stuff have a gun to their heads.
Amen to that, and I would add 'have a family they'd like to see again.'
Not really. In fact, it does seem to require a lot of personal soul searching. I hope I am wrong, but one day many of us could be called to make this same kind of decision. As I said above, judgment both earthly and Heavenly will await whatever decision I make, if I'm faced with this same situation. Does that sound "easy" to you?
"So, are you saying the Bible is wrong? "
I seem to remember one of the disciples, denying Jesus three times after the crucifixion. Yet, he was not condemned. Instead, he was the "Rock," and went on to build the church.
He was crucified, himself, later on. But, in the crucial time after the crucifixion, Peter denied Jesus, not once, but three times.
I'm really sorry, but from my understanding of Christianity, you are in no position to criticize these newsmen at all. It's unseemly.
(...Now that I'm on the right thread! sheesh!)
Maybe someone has already mentioned it. (I've only read the first 50 posts) ----- but I read somewhere that this instant 'conversion' is not uncommon. Weren't some reporters asked to convert, so that they could enter a certain area for a story?
Fabrizio Quattrocchi
We judged him from our comfortable homes as a hero sitting in front of our pc's, didn't we?
I don't know. I'm not at all saying I'd do any better in the same boat and I certainly wouldn't judge, but between Daniel and the Lion's den and Peter's denial of Christ to save himself, the Bible is pretty clear it's a no-no.
On the upside, Peter's experience proves this is forgiveness to be had.
I hope I never have to test that theory personally.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.