Re: Fwd: Christian intolerance editorial

While I think my government and military are capable of unimaginably stupid
things, I find it hard to believe that it would be a trained tactic of the
US military or intelligence to instruct its interrigators to stomp on the
Qur'an and beat up a Muslim prisoner and then answer why with "Because I am
an Christian." Such an activity would be so counterproductive, and if it
ever got out would only deepen the hatred toward the US held by many
Muslims. Given our present administration's attempts to improve its image
in the Muslim world, why ever would the Pentegon countenance such a tactic,
even with a Secretary like Rumsfeld?

Having met people who call themselves Christians and then behaved in the
most cruel way toward to those in their power, I have no trouble at all
believing that if this incident happened it was the decision and act of this
single individual Smith.

Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: "Terry M. Gray" <grayt@lamar.colostate.edu>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 11:19 AM
Subject: 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
>
Received on Tue Mar 22 14:36:09 2005