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 ...
Agree with your post 197 completely. There should be NO negotiating with terrorists. Why are journalists lives more precious than civilian contractors or military personnel? Besides, the caving and kowtowing will only produce more kidnappings and more deaths. The Fox guys willingly put themselves in harm's way - it was their choice and a brave one, to do their jobs.
From what I understand, our forces are very sensitive to Islamic religion and go out of their way to respect it while in Mideast.
Also, if anyone, civilian or military dared to proselytize they would be held for contempt or worse.
Who the hell are you? He doesn't NEED to do ANYTHING.
They are crawling out of the woodwork today.
islam always gets a pass, I guess they always will. *sigh*
Do you understand why for centuries Christian martyrs have refused to convert to Islam at sword point?
Do you understand why Christians are being slaughtered today in the Sudan?
All of these Christians were murdered for refusing to deny Christ. To pretend that converting to Islam, even under duress, isn't a denial of Christ is to spit on the martyrdom of millions of Christians over the past 2,000 years.
"Ah, I understand. North is up, therefore if anyone travels north they are denying Christ. I see."
You must have a PhD in Logic, your arguement is so persuasive.
Don't get your knickers in a twist. In my post, I specifically said I didn't blame them for what they did. I don't care if they really converted or just pretended to; I just don't see how they can praise Islam if they were forced to convert to it at gunpoint.
"From what I understand, our forces are very sensitive to Islamic religion and go out of their way to respect it while in Mideast. "
Indeed. Our policy is not anti-Islam in any way. We are there to help the Iraqis set up an Iraqi-run government. They aren't going to be converting to Christianity, I'm pretty certain.
Our President has set the stage. He shows respect towards Islam as a religion in almost every speech about Iraq.
Fear? They just had a two week ordeal that none of us can imagine. A bit of Stockholm Syndrome? It doesn't really matter.
..you forgot the 'rest of the story'
Peter denied Christ 3 times....tis true...
...then Peter repented with all his heart...
..is known as the rock upon which the Church was built...
..and was crucified upside down, after watching his wife crucified, because he didn't want to/wouldn't deny Christ again!!!!!!!!
You presume many things....
There may be, but I am unaware of any Old Testament admonitions against the Jewish people denying Christ.
The Bible does not use your standard to assess the "triumph of faith".
Rather it is clear about the consequences of denying Christ before man.
Christian Martyrs: A VERY long legacy.
Although it is a very hard and controversial point, throughout history there have been ten of thousands of Christians who when “at threat of death” would gladly give their lives rather than renounce their faith is Jesus Christ.
I am not judging the Fox news people… only God will. But the facts of history are replete with contrary behavior.
Here are just a very few….
Agapius: He was brought to the arena with a murderer to be cast to wild animals. The emperor gave clemency to the murderer. When the Christian refused to accept liberty by renouncing his faith, he rushed against a bear let loose upon him. After being mauled by the bear, he was taken to prison. Surviving for one day, stones were bound to his feet, and he was thrown into the sea. (357)
Alpheus: He was scourged and scraped with iron hooks and severe bonds. He received different tortures on the rack, having his feet stretched a night and a day to the fourth hole in the stocks. At length, he was beheaded. (350)
Apollonia: They seized this elderly woman, beat her jaws, and broke out all her teeth. They built a fire and threatened to burn her alive unless she would repeat their impious expressions. She appeared to shrink a little, but when allowed to go, she suddenly sprang into the fire and was consumed. (258)
Apollonius: He was renowned for his learning and wisdom. After he gave an eloquent defence of the faith before the judge, he was decapitated according to the decree of the senate. (205)
Apphianus: When this youth tried to prevent Urbanus from sacrificing to a god, he was seized and torn by the soldiers. He received innumerable stripes on his whole body and was cast into prison. There he was stretched with both feet a night and a day on the rack. When he was brought before the judge and refused to make a sacrifice, his sides were furrowed and scraped to the bone while he was being beaten on the face and neck. When he still did not yield, they covered his feet with linen steeped in oil and set fire to the cloth. The fire penetrated to the bones, but the youth did not die or yield. Defeated, the tormentors returned him to prison. After three days, he was taken again to the judge. This time, as he remained faithful to his belief, he was thrown into the sea and drowned. (355)
Blandina: She was tortured by tormentors who took turns from morning till night until they were overcome. She continued to live despite her whole body being torn asunder and pierced. Later, she was bound and suspended on a stake, being exposed as food for wild animals. When none of the animals would touch her, she was taken down from the stake and returned to prison for another time. Then, after scourging, exposure to animals, and roasting, she was thrown into a net and cast before a bull. After much tossing from the animal, she died. (172-179)
Cronion: [See the account of Julian. These two received their like torture together.] (259)
Ennathas: She was dragged by force and brought before the judge. After being scourged and enduring dreadful abuses, she was stripped of her clothes above the loins. As she was led about the city, she was beaten with thongs of hide. She remained cheerful through this; and, when she was taken back before the judge, she was condemned to the flames. (365, 366)
Julian: He was an old man who was afflicted with gout. Having confessed the Lord in front of his accusers, he was carried on a camel throughout the city. In this elevation, he was scourged and finally consumed in an immense fire, surrounded by the thronging crowds of spectators. (259)
Metra: An aged man, he was called upon to utter impious statements. When he did not obey, his tormentors beat his body with clubs, and pricked his face and eyes. After that, they led him to the suburbs, where they stoned him. (257)
Origen: He endured many torments to the body because of his faith. He was under an iron collar, spent time in the deepest recesses of the prison, for many days was extended and stretched to four holes on the rack, was threatened by fire, and had other tortures. The judge tried hard to protract his life in order to prolong his sufferings. (255)
Polycarp: He was a teacher from Asia who taught multitudes not to sacrifice to the gods nor worship them. Through a vision he had, he said that he must be burned alive. After he was bound to the stake, he prayed and awaited the fire. The flames gave the appearance of an oven around him. He was in the midst, not like burning flesh, but like gold and silver purified in the flames. A fragrant odour, like the fumes of incense, or other precious aromatic drugs, was perceived. When the persecutors saw that his body could not be consumed by fire, they commanded the executor to plunge his sword into him. When this was done, such a quantity of blood gushed forth that the fire was extinguished. His body was later burned according to the custom of the Gentiles, and his bones were buried. (143)
Pothinus: He had performed the ministrations of the episcopate of Lyons. Although past ninety years of age, very infirm of body, he was taken to the tribunal where he stood firm in his faith. He was unmercifully dragged away and endured many stripes, while those nearby abused him with their hands and feet. Then, after two days in prison, he died. (174)
Procopius: Before he was tried by imprisonment, he was taken before the tribunal of the governor. When commanded to sacrifice to the gods, he declared that he knew only one to whom it was proper to sacrifice. When ordered to make libations [the ritual of pouring out wine or oil in honor of a god] to the four emperors, he stated a sentence which did not please his accusers. Immediately, he was beheaded. (349)
Quinta: They took her to the temple of an idol and tried to force her to worship. When she turned away in disgust, they tied her by the feet and dragged her through the city, dashing her against the millstones and scourging her at the same time. When they completed the dragging where they started, they stoned her. (257)
Sanctus: He suffered many torments devised by men. When these men could do no more, they fastened hot plates of brass to the most tender parts of his body. He withstood all the suffering, but his body was one continued wound, mangled and shrivelled, that had entirely lost the form of man to the external eye. Again, he passed through the tortures. These included the strokes of the scourge, the draggings and lacerations from the beasts, other tortures demanded by the audience, and the iron chair upon which his body was roasted. Other tortures followed until he died. (172-176)
Serapion: He was seized in his own house. After torturing him with the severest cruelties and breaking all his limbs, they threw him headlong from an upper storey of the house. (258)
Simeon: He was the son of Cleophas, a descendant of David, and the second bishop of Jerusalem. When he was one hundred and twenty years old, a search was made for any descendants of David. Simeon was one who was taken into custody. After he had been tormented for several days, he was crucified. (118)
Theodosia: She was not yet eighteen years old, yet was distinguished for her faith and virtue. As she approached some prisoners before the judgment seat to salute them, she was seized by the soldiers and led away to the commander. She was tortured cruelly, having her sides and breasts furrowed with instruments even to the bones. She kept a cheerful and joyful countenance throughout. Then she was ordered to be cast into the sea. (359)
Timotheus: He endured a multitude of tortures. Then he was condemned to be consumed by a slow and gentle fire. Throughout it all, he exhibited an undeniable proof of his sincere devotedness to God. (352)
Ulpian: He was a young man who suffered dreadful torments and the most severe scourgings. After all of these, he was sewn in a raw bull's hide, together with a dog and a poisonous asp, and thrown into the sea. (357)
Zaccheus: [See the account of Alpheus. These two received their like torture together.] (350)
There are also thousands in the last few years (N. Korea, China,etc.. who have not "saved their lives" .
Well, I might be sympathetic to some of their views, too, if they didn't behave the way they seem to. I might not agree with it, but so long as they let others dwell in peace, I could certainly get along with them. There might be a few individual Palestinians I could get along with if they don't push their religion on me. I wouldn't push mine on them.
The problem is that Palestinians are of the Islam faith, and the Islam faith forces conversions and puts people to the sword if they refuse. We've had periods of that in Christianity. It's not something I'm proud of, an aberration. It happened. I hope we're past that for good. I'm not pointing fingers. I didn't live in those times. I don't know what influences I would have been subject to. All I know is what is now. There are nutjobs who call themselves Christian who think they are doing God's work by hating and sometimes killing, etc., but they are far in the minority.
If I thought it would save my life, I'd tell someone I believe that Mickey Mouse is God. Altogether now kids:
M I C , K E Y , M O U S E !!!
Well Said
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