Saving the 'American Taliban' [[I cannot believe this stuff]]

page A19 of the Boston Globe ^ | 12/19/2001 | Steven Hassan: director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center

[rface]

WHAT COULD have driven an educated young American from a loving and prosperous family to embrace the Taliban cause?

His parents have said that he was brainwashed. I have not met John Walker Lindh, who was recently captured in Afghanistan, but I believe his parents are probably right. In fact, I had a similar experience as a student at Queens College in New York City when I was 19 - Lindh's age. I never participated in actual combat, but I was engaged in a holy war on the streets of New York.

[rface]

what a pile of crap........

Ashland, Missouri

[headsonpikes]

Pile of crap bump. ;^)

"Freedom of Mind Resource Center".....Sheesh! No mind and apparently resourceless.

I guess Orwell was an optimist!

[End Times Sentinel]

The really convincing part of this story is that he not only fails to give any detail about this “cult” that he was part of, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks, but he also completely disregards the need to link his “experience” with that of Walker/Lindh.

Very convincing, especially if facts aren’t necessary...

[TADSLOS]

I didn't know it then, but I had been recruited into a front group within a worldwide cult that wants to rule the world with a so-called automatic theocracy led by the group's supposed messiah

Sounds to me like he's still in a cult called liberalism.

[Ronbo273]

I disagree: I think the writer makes some valid points, and speaks from experience. However, whether or not Walker was "brainwashed" or not -- he is responsible for his actions.

[rface]

Sounds to me like he's still in a cult called liberalism....

My guess was GreenPiss. I might make an effort to find out.

[techdawg2k]

Write the idiot here:
Resource Center for Freedom of Mind
P.O. Box 45223
Somerville, MA 02145

Email Address: center@freedomofmind.com

[Thommas]

Yep, this hogwash is what passes for tolerant thought processes these days. You know, it's the old "I once was called a name, so I know what is to be discriminated against" attitude. This article is just this drip's weak attempt to justify the poor Rat-boy's treason in a palatable way.

What this author really wants to say is "Walker hates the United States and joined forces with those whose legitimate gripe with the U.S. government can only be slaked with bloodshed. And there is nothing wrong with that."

Nothing like a 5th Columnist to brighten up the day....

[goodnesswins]

"Sounds to me like he's still in a cult called liberalism."

THAT is a GREAT statement.....!!!! "Cult of liberalism."

[Sabatier]

"This story ran on page A19 of the Boston Globe on 12/19/2001."

Consider the source - The Boston Globe!
On the recent tapes of Walker he looked like a fraud - very aware of the camera, very much playing to the audience. No way this kid was brainwashed. Sympathy for him belongs instead to the patriots who serve our country in the Armed Forces. This kid was playing while they are working and sacrificing.

I suspect his lawyers are watching for public reaction to these "trial balloons", so to speak, to see which defense might work. The brainwashed defense doesn't fly - not even a little.

[TomGuy]

I think he is a victim

So, society must save individuals from their own stupidity? (GMAB--give me a break!)

Nothing is more powerful than a personal story, especially one that tells of the journey from slavery to freedom. Such a story - the promise of redemption in the afterlife - is said to fuel the actions of suicide terrorists. The stories of Taliban and Al Qaeda members who reject terrorism and leave their cell groups need to be heard and examined within our culture and within the Arab and Muslim worlds.

Or, poor little Johnny RAT Walker Lindh could retain his terroristic leanings and become the next Bin Laden. And so far, there hasn't been any revelation that little Johnny has rejected terrorism.

Little Johnny was not a victim, but was a perpetrator and willing participant, of terrorism.

[LarryLied]

Hassan was a Moonie. Chapters from his book, Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves are Here

[Mark17]

WHAT COULD have driven an educated young American from a loving and prosperous family to embrace the Taliban cause?

Lunacy maybe? After all, he worships the Luna god. Anyway, if we let him use that excuse, then every terrorist on earth will try to claim the same defense. Hang him at sunrise. He is repsponsible for his actions.

[Dr.Deth]

As I was indoctrinated by the cult, I underwent a radical personality change. I was programmed to kill off the old Steve who knew and loved my friends and family. A new cult identity was created. I was trained to shut out any doubts that entered my mind, thinking they were from Satan.

The author is a weak-minded simp.

A 'piteous victim'... my ass. When did God revoke your free will, dolt? How did you come to your new beliefs, cretin? Were you drugged? Hypnotized? Tortured? Or were you just another piece of oblivious, insensate human chattel following some Pie-in-the-skyd Piper?

This is the sort of person that orders stuff from Home Shopping Network because they say he should.

Victim-culture odium like this just pisses me off. Wonder how many people he's sued?

[cav68]

Mister, I will say this once and only ONCE. You need to reach down and grab the seat of your pants and pull your head out of your ass, Once you have done that maybe just maybe you will look at the pictures of the families who have lost their LOVE ONES and then Maybe Then You will see who did what. My God Mister our OWN Troops Died for this so Called Brainwashed Rock Hidden B-----d. To even post something so as this should have never been allowed.

[rface]

there is a valid point to make with regards to cults, yet this does not relieve anyone of the responsibility of their actions. Its also good to remember that Mercy is not a rare commodity in the U.S....

Steve Hassan's war on cults

By John Koch, Globe Staff, 02/04/97

Steve Hassan says that he was prepared to commit murder,``absolutely.'' Or, if necessary, take a bullet in his own body and die a glorious death.

Hassan was a follower of Sun Myung Moon, a true believer in the South Korean evangelist's Unification Church. He used to literally fall to his knees, kowtowing in Moon's presence.

[[the entire article is found here...]]

Steve Hassan's war on cults

[Anamensis]

Gosh... that's so sad... and yet.... yet... I STILL want little Johnny shot in the head and buried face-down in an unmarked grave! Guess I've been brainwashed to think that people who turn on their own country are no longer entitled to its protection. Oh dear, my mind is controlled by patriotism. How will I ever break free? (sniff)

[paul51]

Pile of crap bump. ;^)

Funny

[Dr.Deth]

You guys can feel free to keep up the ignorance pageant, however, it's entertaining.

Whatever.

Give my middle-fingered regards to Sun-Myung, pawn.