Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Is Victim the Right Term?

Members of Christian Peacemaker Teams, who have been in Iraq since October 2002 (Don't we all remember the halcyon pre-October 2002 days when Iraq was a peaceful paradise?), have been kidnapped by jihadi terrorists.

CPT is mad:

We are angry because what has happened to our teammates is the result of the actions of the U.S. and U.K. governments due to the illegal attack on Iraq and the continuing occupation and oppression of its people. Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has worked for the rights of Iraqi prisoners who have been illegally detained and abused by the U.S. government. We were the first people to publicly denounce the torture of Iraqi people at the hands of U.S. forces, long before the western media admitted what was happening at Abu Ghraib. We are some of the few internationals left in Iraq who are telling the truth about what is happening to the Iraqi people We hope that we can continue to do this work and we pray for the speedy release of our beloved teammates.


They just don't get it. They are outraged by what has happened in Iraq since we overthrew Saddam. They seem bewildered that jihadis would harm them--they who "tell the truth" about what is happening to the Iraqi people. Their anger is directed not at the jihadis who will surely be issuing their snuff film of the deaths of these truth tellers in due time, but at America and Britain.

What must it be like to be someone who can't hate--or even blame--those who would kill them? To be someone who excuses criminal behavior against their brethren?

And is this confusing to the jihadis? Can they comprehend how the hate of the CPT people can be directed at America and Britain and not the sword-holders who will murder them with joy?

Are these team members even victims as they play a role for a goal they support? Do the jihadis even have to guard these people or do they volunteer to do chores around the apartment out of deep guilt and admiration for their freedom fighters? I'd wish them the best but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't even agree with what I wish for.

It's a funny world. Funny "strange" and not funny "ha ha," of course.