Free Republic

I have two id's. I originally signed-up at my office but listed my home e-mail. When I realized that I could not access my password until I went home, I resigned using the second name (lanice8).

I agree with you that the Crusades were a response to Islamic imperialism. However, I do not agree that everything that happened during the Crusades was commendable. There were many beneficial things which were accomplished, albeit temporarily through the Crusades (ie. the liberation of Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy land from Islamic control.) I do not and will not apologize for that. But not every Crusader was of the same ilk, and not all of them did valiant deeds. The apology focused purely on the wrongs which were done, and there is nothing wrong in apologizing for that. Throughout history, we see many movements,(even beneficial ones) frought with inequities and atrocities. That doesn't mean that the overall movement was bad, or that it should not have happened, but I believe that it takes strength of character to acknowledge that some things did go wrong- terribly wrong- and that they should be acnowledged and dealt with. It does not in some way diminish the strength or character of the Church or the West to acknowledge that we have gotten some things wrong. In fact, I think that it strengthens us and shows our confidence in who we are, because it shows that we are not afraid to admit our faults, nor are we intimidated by our enemies. Please don't misunderstand the aim. The Rec Walk was not about apologizing for who we are, pandering to Islamic sympathizers, discrediting the beliefs of Christianity or the values of the West, etc. It was simply about dealing with the things that were wrong.

Does Islamic civilization have alot for which it can "apologize"? Certainly! But I do not require their apology as a prerequisite to giving my own.

Hello. I know that this may seem like quite a strange reference, but I recently came across a thread on-line discussing the reconciliation walk, held from 1995-1999. I was excited to see the article as well as the name of the director, because I took part in the walk and am personal friends with the director. I was sorry to see your comments about the walk and the individuals involved. I know the organizers, and I know that they are sincere people, who in fact, are ardent followers of Christ, and whose desire was to open a door of dialogue with the descendants of those who were affected by some of the negative things done during the Crusades. Their goal wasn't to dispute whether or not the Islamic forces of the medieval period had committed atrocities or not, and I know for a fact that they do not deny any of the terrible things done by the Muslims. I participated in the walk, and would do it again. I am about the furthest person from a liberal that you could find. Please do not make blanket assumptions about attempts such as this, and the individuals involved. All of the individuals that were involved (at least the ones with whom I am familiar) are so dramatically different from anything that you all have described or discussed, that I am stunned. I would never have expected people to call us liberal, pc, and non-Christian. I can only hope that in the years which have passed since this thread began, there has been some change of opinion.