11 Mar Love Thy Enemy, But Not The Enemy Of Thy Enemy
11.03.06
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2 Comments
As reported here, kidnapped pacifist Tom Fox was found slain in Iraq this week. He was one of four members of the organization called Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) who were held hostage by a militant Islamic group known as the Swords of Righteousness Brigade.
The CPT released a statement yesterday that struck me as quite remarkable. Not a single negative thing was said about the radical Islamic militants who killed one of their colleagues. The message was for forgiveness of those who killed Fox and a call to “set aside inclinations to vilify or demonize others, no matter what they have done.” Okay, admittedly that arguably is a fairly orthodox (but atypical) expression of Christian forgiveness of our enemies.
But then the statement continues. And the message turns wholly negative when it discusses the United States. It takes comfort in the “the strong and courageous message of Muslim brothers and sisters” throughout the world who inspire “us to continue working for the day when Christians speak up as boldly for the human rights of thousands Iraqis still detained illegally by the United States and United Kingdom…. Let us all join our voices on behalf of those who continue to suffer under occupation, whose loved ones have been killed or are missing. In so doing, we may hasten the day when both those who are wrongly detained and those who bear arms will return safely to their homes. In such a peace we will find solace for our grief.”
Let me see if I get this straight. On receiving the news of the violent death of their kidnapped colleague, the Christian Peacemakers Team pronounces love and forgiveness for the radical Islamic militants who killed Tom Fox, and outrage at the United States. Love thy enemy, but not the enemy of thy enemy. Strange. Very strange.
Related post:
Roger, I think you are being a bit unfair with your reading and quoting of the CPT’s statement. In my opinion, I don’t think a reader would find a screed against the United States or the United Kingdom. I encourage people reading this post to click through to that statement and judge for themselves. As you pointed out in your previous (and I would say much more thoughtful) post, the CPT have deep Quaker roots and influences and are committed to pacifism, no matter who is engaging in war. They have been particularly committed to exposing incidents of prisoner abuse and have been a valuable source for journalists like Seymour Hersh of the New Yorker. I see the statement as merely reaffirming their passionate commitment to human rights and assuring the Muslim community that this act of violence will not change that commitment. I can’t say that I have the moral clarity or the personal wisdom and experience that would allow me to comment on whether there is such a thing as a “just war” or if war in and of itself is always an evil to be confronted. If I had to hazard a view, I probably wouldn’t side… Read more »
James notes:
“They confronted war and their ensuing captivity with great personal dignity, bravery and ultimately with forgiveness. It would be wrong to overlook their example as just another misguided attempt to demonize the United States.”
As yes, a terrific example from these misguided fools of what happens to the eternally optimistic. Tell us again just *what* they were doing in Iraq in support of peace that they couldn’t do elsewhere? No, this isn’t a crazy question.
These people can be pacifists all they want, but they’d be well-advised to then stay out of the way of people who mean business.