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Laura Ling and Euna Lee: Welcome Home!
Aug 5th, 2009 | 10 responses
I’m sure many of you have already seen the video of Laura Ling and Euna Lee after their safe return to the United States, but I don’t think it’s been posted here yet, so here it is.
My tears started when Laura’s voice broke, and they didn’t stop until the video was over.
10 Responses to “Laura Ling and Euna Lee: Welcome Home!”
Thanks, Kathy. I was hoping that we could perhaps celebrate the freedom of these two young ladies for at least 24 hours before politicizing the whole affair. Alas, it was not to be, as evidenced by “Slick Willie Clinton To The Rescue.”
Thanks for posting Kathy. . . i don't watch T.V. but really glad this one was not missed. . .my double quilted paper towel is now soggy. . .
Dorian,
Also, see this. Starting with the 2nd paragraph.
Oh, how I cried this morning when I saw it on TV! Can you imagine the surreal euphoria of being led into a room for a “meeting” and seeing Clinton there?
Kathy- That link was unbelievable! Can't we just celebrate a successful humanitarian mission and the return of two American citizens to our own soil?
MSNBC reported that Clinton had sent Kim a note of condolence after his father died– and he wanted to meet the former prez in person. The journalists' release was quid pro quo for the appearance and the note.Nothing to do with our official foreign policy towards NK at all.
I read it, Kathy. Sad…
Can you imagine the surreal euphoria of being led into a room for a “meeting” and seeing Clinton there?
Yeah, I know. That's one of the scenes I've been seeing that gets my heart the most — that, and the shot of Euna Lee kneeling on the tarmac to hug her four-year-old daughter. The look on her face, that you see, in profile, for just an instant or two — like a raw sob filled with joy — just slays me.
It is very wonderful that these young women were able to get back home unharmed (relatively speaking).
Again, if face time with Clinton was the final piece that was needed to make it happen, why not? There are times partisanship has no place at all, and this is one of them.
What a truly touching and emotional video. Thanks Kathy!
While I'm happy the resolution was a good one, does the United States government have an obligation to rescue stupid people, or people who understand they're going in to a dangerous situation? If they were the latter, Ms. Ling and Lee walked in to this knowing how dangerous it was and should have been prepared to accept the consequences. If they were the former, is the amount of effort expended on their behalf justifed?
We also have three hikers in the custody of Iranian officials, charged with illegally crossing the border. These men were warned by locals not to hike in that particular area but did so anyway. How much effort should be expended on their behalf? And how much attention is this all taking away from the real problem of dealing with these two rogue states?
Its not just about the journalists– its an expression of American goodwill and humanity. Ity counteracts the image of us as vicious war-mongers who trample on other cultures in the name of American exceptionalism.