by Jack
Ed and Paula Kassig, the parents of Abdul-Rahman Kassig, the U.S. aid worker beheaded by ISIS militants, called Monday for forgiveness, healing and freedom for people being held against their will around the world. In a brief two-minute statement at their church in Indianapolis, Paula Kassig said their son had proved that “one person makes a difference.” Really? And what difference did he make?
He was raised in a Christian family and he kicked those values to the curb when he renounced his faith and became a Muslim. Like other converts he rejected his given name, Peter, and preferred to be called himself by his Muslim name, Abdul-Rahman Kassig.
He made a deliberate attempt to insert himself into an Islamic war zone knowing full well that as an American, even one who is a Muslim, he would be a high value prize for ISIS. A prize that would be used as leverage against America. But, he did it anyway, why? I’m going with foolish. This makes me wonder if he wasn’t suffering from some form of PTSD or if he had brainwashed by some Imam back in the USA? Because in my humble thinking, this was an irrational decision. Why go to Syria despite all the clear warnings against it? Ultimately the State Dept. let him go, but maybe the most merciful thing would have been to lock him up in a mental institution for awhile, while he received some serious deprogramming. But, that didn’t happen and now he’s dead. . . big surprise.
His Mom said, “Our hearts are battered, but they will mend. The world is broken, but it will be healed in the end, and good will prevail.” I wonder how good will prevail? Someone once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” To me that means other families sons will have to stop these fanatics some day with lethal force. One thing for sure is, her son won’t be around to see it.
Am I mad at this poor guy for getting captured and murdered??? Well, I feel bad for him and his family for sure, but I guess I am also angry. He choose a faith that created this barbaric Sharia Law that is often used to motivate terrorist acts. And I think by doing that he has rejected America’s higher values of equality, respect for life and justice. He also foolishly placed himself in danger without regard to the consequences because of his new religion. And ironically other young men took his life that were in the same religion and they will try to take more lives using the moral authority of their Koran. It’s all very disturbing and doesn’t bode well for our future. We’re on a collision course with radical Islam.
Sometimes the apple does not fall far from the tree.
“He made a deliberate attempt to insert himself into an Islamic war zone knowing full well that as an American, even one who is a Muslim, he would be a high value prize for ISIS. A prize that would be used as leverage against America. But, he did it anyway, why? I’m going with foolish. This makes me wonder if he wasn’t suffering from some form of PTSD or if he had brainwashed by some Imam back in the USA? Because in my humble thinking, ….
Humble is not the word that comes to my mind.
To dismiss, as being in some way deranged, a religious philosophy embraced by half the planet strikes me as a little arrogant … and, frankly … bigoted.
I don’t suppose it’s occurred to you that ISIS’s rather medieval insistence on conversion to Islam bears some resemblance to the thought process whereby you suggest that converts to Islam be “deprogrammed”?
No, I didn’t think so.
Good observation Pie, it’s exactly what I was thinking.
Libby, does might make right? You said, “To dismiss, as being in some way deranged, a religious philosophy embraced by half the planet strikes me as a little arrogant … and, frankly … bigoted.” Aren’t you ever going to get tired of playing the race card? That’s what people do when they really don’t have a case. And it’s not half the planet…it’s 23%, but that’s the kind of gross exaggeration and misinformation we’ve come to expect from you.
Jack: “Someone once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.””
Don’t you think this young man was following those exact words? He was there helping refugees:
“I felt that more could be done to help people and that the most effective way to bring assistance was through a close connection to those who were in desperate need, by meeting them where they were.”
http://www.ibtimes.com/who-peter-kassig-american-threatened-isis-next-beheading-victim-1699348
Your response saddens me Jack. There is no evidence that Kassig was a radical or that he was brainwashed or mentally ill, but you automatically jump to that assumption just because he converted to Islam. Yes, that is bigoted. The fact that he was killed is actually pretty compelling evidence that he did not agree with ISIS’ radical agenda.
Your statement that “he has rejected America’s higher values of equality, respect for life and justice” is equally baseless and bigoted. His work and his public statements show a lot of respect for life, equal treatment and justice.
From the evidence we have it seems that Kassig was there to help people hurt most by war and your response is more division and more war.
Really, truly sad.
1) I was being rhetorical, and 2) bigots come in the religious variety as well.
Furthermore, a commentary on Slate today wonders if the Ranger took charge at the end … that he refused to follow the script, and ISIS had to round up some Syrian soldiers who would.
It’s possible you should proud of the man, Jack, not imagining reasons to condemn him.
Interesting contrast between Libby (Chris) and Jack (Pie). One looks at it from a humanitarian perspective and the other from military experience and logic.
I applaud the man’s sense of humanity and share in his empathy for those caught up in this war, if that was indeed his motivation, God bless him.
I also understand the importance of standing on the side of good to face down and destroy a brutal enemy. And that means not doing anything that gives aid and comfort to the enemy or helps to further their cause.
The ultimate intention of radical Muslim terrorists is to perform mass conversion and genocide across the entire world using whatever evil means they can think of, which qualifies them in my book as an immoral brutal enemy.
Kassig may have meant well but he foolishly placed himself in a position to become a useful pawn in the enemies deadly war. Given the mindset of many people today, there’s a chance he never gave that a thought, much less weighed its importance…except he was ex-military…what was he thinking? There are so many ways to do good works, ways that wouldn’t put you in line to be captured.
The only good there is in this is that he was acting from the basic values of his upbringing, as were his parents when they said they would try to forgive Islamic State jihadists.
There’s quite a bit to say about those who continue to look for morally equivalent explanations and become distracted by notions of bigotry, but what’s the use? Even with the shock of seeing jets flown into buildings, people leaping from the burning buildings, the slow brutal beheading of journalists and aid workers, the taping and posting of these barbaric acts, nothing seems to penetrate.
Libby will “deal with them.” She prefers the Carter/Clinton approach never considering that over the many decades of policing and appeasing we spurred them on to new heights of terror and watched as their strength and influence grew. Only when we determined to defeat them was there any hope of removing the threat from the world.
As long as we insist on being tolerant and understanding, out of fear of seeming to be bigoted, we (including Muslims) will continue to live with the growing evil, the beheadings…and worse.
Tina, you contradict yourself. On the one hand:
“The only good there is in this is that he was acting from the basic values of his upbringing, as were his parents when they said they would try to forgive Islamic State jihadists.
And on the other, acting on those principles makes one “foolish”:
“Kassig may have meant well but he foolishly placed himself in a position to become a useful pawn in the enemies deadly war.”
And how, exactly, was he useful? In that his murder has scared the bejebbers out of you? That’s your problem, isn’t it?
I just finished reading “Firestone and the Warlord” (send ProPubica money!), and you know, that Charles Taylor and his cronies were every bit as heinous as ISIS … but I don’t recall you, or anybody else, being all that much bothered.
Why do you suppose that is?
In fact, Taylor’s heinous cronies are still in the Liberian government. Ick.
Libby I do not contradict myself. He could have chosen to help people in South America or Mexico so as to stay out of the areas where he could become a pawn in the enemies game. A military man should have been aware, particularly given the pattern to use such events as a recruitment tool…that is how he was useful to the enemy. It is sad indeed that you have to be told this. American women, seniors and children in WWII knew better.
“In that his murder has scared the bejebbers out of you? That’s your problem, isn’t it?”
You mean bejeebers?
I know it tickles your little girl imagination to think I might be huddled in a corner, trembling uncontrollably, and peeing my pants so go ahead and waste your time on fantasy.
I will continue to be cognizant of and assess the situation with the solemnity it deserves and act accordingly.
“Charles Taylor and his cronies were every bit as heinous as ISIS … but I don’t recall you, or anybody else, being all that much bothered.”
Has Charles Taylor been in the news of late? Much of what we involves current events and events that directly affect the US.
In fact Taylor has been, according to Britanica off the radar:
After a lengthy process, and world wide condemnation, he was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity and finally sentenced in May of 2012.
I’m sure it’s silly of me to aske, but, have you sent an email to ProPublica, or Salon demanding to know why they “weren’t all that much bothered” by Charles Taylors crimes? ProPublica is selling a book, for profit and to fund Democrat causes, what’s so noble, heroic, or caring in that?
“In fact, Taylor’s heinous cronies are still in the Liberian government. Ick.”
Have to agree with you there, Libs. The world keeps turning and there’s no shortage of evil in it.
“He could have chosen to help people in South America or Mexico ….”
And been martyred by some cartel or the FARQ? But we’re beginning to see you point. It’s Muslims who don’t deserve compassionate activism?
“as a recruitment tool … that is how he was useful to the enemy.”
Well, by that dubious logic, we should not be sending any of our soldiers back to Iraq. I shudder to think of the spectacle that will be staged if any of them should fall into enemy hands.
No, I think it’s the “compassion for Muslims” part that has you in a tizz.
“Libby will “deal with them.” She prefers the Carter/Clinton approach never considering that over the many decades of policing and appeasing we spurred them on to new heights of terror and watched as their strength and influence grew”
As opposed to, say, the Reagan/Bush Sr. approach in which no new terrorists were made at all?
Tina, ProPublica does the investigative journalism that the MSM won’t do … because it tends to be lengthy, complicated, and often dangerous, and does not make money.
That’s why we have to send them money.
And if “Hyperpartisanism” isn’t in the DSM-IV … it ought to be.
Libby: “racism racism racism”…
A one note mind has built in bias.
“…by that dubious logic, we should not be sending any of our soldiers back to Iraq…”
Demonstrating gargantuan ignorance about things military/war related…or about standing in defense of freedom in support of the military fighting on the front lines.