Re: Fwd: Christian intolerance editorial

Would it surprise anyone here that this sort of religious
intimidation was a trained tactic of the US military or intelligence
and that it had nothing to do with this soldier's personal faith
(although it's hard to imagine that if he had a personal faith that
he would be able to do such a thing)?

It wouldn't surprise me at all. That's why I can't take the story at
face value. It may be true but I don't think it reflects a sincere
Christian faith in any possible way.

While I'm responding to this thread in general let me add that for
some people any attempt to proselytize demonstrates a lack of respect
for another's religion. If we accept the exclusive truth claims of
Christianity, which I think most of us here do, we can't possibly
accept that view. That's why we do missions.

TG

>Begin forwarded message:
>
>>Columbus Dispatch ed. page
>>
>>Tale of 2 Smiths holds a moral for all Christians
>>Monday, March 21, 2005
>>LEONARD PITTS
>>
>>When the man came to, he asked why Smith had beaten him unconscious.
>>"Because I'm Christian," Smith said.
>>
>>The anecdote comes from a story alleging prisoner abuse at Guantanamo Bay,
>>Cuba, written by my colleague, Miami Herald reporter Carol Rosenberg, and
>>published Sunday before last. Her report, based on recently declassified
>>notes taken by lawyers representing the captives, included other claims of
>>religious intimidation. Prisoners say their American captors kicked and
>>stomped Qurans, cursed Allah and denied them pants, knowing Muslims are
>>prohibited from praying with bodies uncovered. A man who refused to
>>surrender his pants said he was gang-tackled, beaten and pepper-sprayed.
>>
>>Still, it's Jumah al Dossari's alleged encounter with a military policeman
>>he knew only as Smith that leaps out.
>>
>>Why did you beat me until I blacked out? he asked Smith. "Because I'm
>>Christian," Smith said.
>>
>>Yeah, I know. Dossari's probably no Boy Scout. Maybe had his hand in some
>>major nastiness. Maybe isn't telling the truth.
>>
>>But his character is beside the point. And as for truth, well, this
>>account sure jibes with those of other Muslim detainees who described
>>brute-force attempts to make Christians out of them.
>>
>>Add to that last year's whiny complaints that saying happy holidays as
>>opposed to Merry Christmas somehow threatens the foundations of
>>Christendom. And the caterwauling crusade to force public display of a
>>rock bearing the Ten Commandments. And recently renewed attempts to force
>>schools to teach so-called creation science.
>>
>>What you get is an unsettling picture of intolerance and arrogance under
>>the guise of faith, renewed proof that religious people are often the
>>worst advertisement for religious life.
>>
>>Then, there's Ashley Smith.
>>
>>She is the 26-year-old woman from Duluth, Ga., who was taken hostage this
>>week by accused rapist and escaped Atlanta courtroom shooter Brian
>>Nichols. Smith knew even before this what trouble is. Four years ago, her
>>husband was stabbed and died in her arms. And The New York Times reports
>>that she has a history of arrests for shoplifting, drunken driving and
>>assault.
>>
>>Then, says Smith.s family, she found God and, through God, change. They
>>say it was what she knew about hurting, about life at the end of your
>>rope, that enabled her to reach out to Nichols. By her account, she talked
>>to him about God. She encouraged him to think about his purpose in the
>>divine design. She reminded him that the people he is alleged to have
>>killed were loved. She made him pancakes. In a word, she ministered to
>>him.
>>
>>And he, in response, let her go.
>>
>>Compare this Smith with the one at Guantanamo. It.s hard to imagine a
>>starker contrast.
>>
>>I am loath to question anybody's bona fides where religious beliefs are
>>concerned. Still, if the Smith at Guantanamo Bay embodied the faith he
>>professed, might not Jumah al Dossari have wound up asking different
>>questions?
>>
>>Might he not have said, Smith, why do you treat me decently? Why do you
>>respect my religion when the others don't? Why did you stop them from
>>beating me?
>>
>>Then it would have made sense, would have been a stirring affirmation, for
>>Smith to reply, "Because I'm Christian."
>>
>>As it is, this Smith affirms only the niggardliness of spirit that so
>>often masquerades as faith. I could spend the rest of the day explaining
>>why niggardliness and faith are mutually exclusive, could fulminate in
>>righteous rebuke of religious bullies who see faith as a license to
>>mistreat instead of as an obligation to serve.
>>
>>But it is enough, I think, to point to this other Smith, making pancakes
>>for a man with a gun, seeking humanity in the despicable.
>>
>>I can.t put it any better than she already did.
>>
>>Leonard Pitts Jr., winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, is a
>>columnist for the Miami Herald.

-- 
_________________
Terry M. Gray, Ph.D., Computer Support Scientist
Chemistry Department, Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado  80523
grayt@lamar.colostate.edu  http://www.chm.colostate.edu/~grayt/
phone: 970-491-7003 fax: 970-491-1801