I have an alert on my google page for anything related to CPT.org in regards to the kidnapping. Basically any time the word cpt.org is mentioned in a news media outlet, I'll get an email, and link. The other day I got this link...
"American hostage killed in Iraq...well, you asked for it
American Daily - Stow,OH,USA
... You see, the Christian Peacemaker Teams' slogan (http://www.cpt.org/index.html) is "committed to reducing violence by getting in the way." The problem is, if ...
I clicked the link and read the article. And much to my dismay, I just could not understand this person's lack of compassion. I usually do not respond to items like this, but I felt I had to say something, so I saw the "feedback" link at the bottom of the page, and sent off an email. I tried to curb my anger, but I think some may have slipped in... here was my response:
I just read your article regarding the Christian Peacmaker who was tortured and murdered. I find it sad that there was no compassion in your article. Sure it's easy to sit back and say "well he got what he deserved." If two guys are pointing a gun at one another and you walk in between them and get shot, then that does sound kinda stupid on the surface of it. But if you think about it, don't you want to give a person credit for trying to break up that gunfight? Here's a person who believes so much that violence is wrong that he's willing to give his life for it, and your response is just "you got what you asked for"... Stay out of the way... he wasn't helping the "good guy" kill the "bad guy". This was a man who didn't want either the "good guy" or the "bad guy" to die. Maybe what he did was wrong by trying to break it up, but i think he at least earns some respect for all that he went through, and for trying to stop violence. It would not have hurt you to show compassion to his cause, his beliefs, or his friends and family who are grieving.
I was surprised but he did reply... and his response shocked me even more.
I simply "dont get it" and it surprises me how people's opinions can be so far apart.
Here is his reply (I'm removing his contact info):
I don't have compassion for hypocrisy and idiocy. If he were REALLY against violence (as the group claims to be) they would "get in the way" of everyone, not just us. Where's the "adopt a kidnapped hostage" link? There isn't one is there?
They're not against violence.
They're just against us.
So screw them. My only regret is that more of them don't get the same treatment.
Such pain and hurt in this email, and yet there is not talking to him.
I regretfully will put this in my "dropped issues" category, but this will continue to haunt me as to how people think.
1 comment:
Oh my Brother, I am sorry you had to absorb some of the spiritual violence that is being spewed randomly by this person. Thank you for writing to him. I thought what you wrote was gentle and wise.
Clearly this man is profoundly misinformed about all that the Christian Peacemaker Teams do in the world. But it is not up to us to try and inform him. He has a wretched bitterness about him which he seems rather content to wallow in.
One of the many things I appreciate about the CPT folks is their willingness to put their lives on the line in a way that is consistent with their beliefs. As the slogan on their website says: "What would happen if Christians devoted the same discipline and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war?"
I hope you won't let this man's words eat away at you. They are not edifying or life-giving.
Love and peace to you.
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