An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right
« Washington Post‘s Resigned Conservative Blogger Calls His Former Bosses “Fools” (UPDATED)
Is George Bush Sliding Into LBJ Territory On The Iraq War? »
CPT Short on Gratitude?
BBC: Kember returning to UK amid row
Freed British hostage Norman Kember is returning home – to a row over whether he thanked the soldiers who saved him….
opinions powered by SendLove.to
4 Responses to “CPT Short on Gratitude?”
I got the sense that those criticizing the CPT for lack of gratitude expected that gratitude should be expressed by the CPT hostages changing their views on the war (i.e., claiming this war, and violence in general, is acceptable in resolving problems between nations). My guess is that the CPT hostages viewed their captivity as a test of their faith and convictions and to change them would indicate a failure of that test.
It seems like the alleged lack of gratitude by the CPT is not really the issue here for many of those pushing that meme. A lot of it, expressed on many blogs from the (far?) Right, seems to be that the military shouldn’t be risking lives to save such hostages, since they themselves were at fault for their situation.
While that’s not an argument without some basis in reality, it contrasts with the same bloggers’ complete support for the Christian in Afghanistan now under the threat of execution for his conversion to Christianity.
Both the CPT members and the Afghani are following the tenets of their Christian faith – to the point of sacrificing all for it. It could be argued both knew what they were getting into, and what the possible (likely) outcomes were. Couldn’t it be said the Afghan Christian “deserves what he gets” as many of those on the Right have said of the CPTers? He lives in a Muslim country governed by Sharia law. Under that law is the well-known fact that those who reject Islam are subject to death.
The difference (yes, simplistic, but not without merit, I think) is that the CPTers are “peaceniks” or “hippies,” or “liberals,” or (place Right wing slander of choice here) rather than God-fearing Christians under attack for their love of Jesus.
Yes, there is a difference. However, I’m more interested in the very real similarities and the very real hypocrisy I sense in these God-fearing “Christian” bloggers who rail at one group that doesn’t fit their political mold, as opposed to another Christian martyr for their “cause.”
Both sides are using this for political gain an posturing. These people were held captive and could have been killed. Let them go home and compose their thoughts. All soldiers, reporters and peace activists should be given their due for working in the mess that is Iraq.
As I have already stated, CPTers (I know one) are naive, well-intended harmless nuisances. Unfortunately they endanger the lives of others as well as their own.