tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19337928.post114315685730049319..comments2023-06-05T04:58:21.278-06:00Comments on The Ramblin' Man: Stephen Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03705819485045114741noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19337928.post-1143517310756417982006-03-27T20:41:00.000-07:002006-03-27T20:41:00.000-07:00Pronouncing judgement is too easy, especially sitt...Pronouncing judgement is too easy, especially sitting here in a cafe typing on a laptop. But Jesus is pretty unequivocal on the question of how to deal with your enemies: you love them, you pray for them, you turn the other cheek, you go the second mile, etc. I struggle with this myself as there are situations in which I feel the need for vengeance, not love. Violence is ever the easy thing, not Stephen Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03705819485045114741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19337928.post-1143515516411500782006-03-27T20:11:00.000-07:002006-03-27T20:11:00.000-07:00CPT is acting as the canary in the mine? I suppose...CPT is acting as the canary in the mine? I suppose the kidnapping did show the world the dangers of terrorism. <BR/>When you begin talking about unlawful detention, I think you begin to tread on very thin ground. The Coalition forces are not barging in and grabbing quiet people from their kitchen tables. Usually, you have to waving an AK-47 around to be detained (if you think such detentions are Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19337928.post-1143513464550822152006-03-27T19:37:00.000-07:002006-03-27T19:37:00.000-07:00Should we not always criticise human rights abuses...Should we not always criticise human rights abuses? Does the end of stopping the insurgency justify the means of torture and unlawful detention? That's what CPT is doing, primarily: acting as "the canary in the mine." (It's important to recognize also that CPT workers are "on the ground" as it were with ordinary Iraqis, not hobnobbing with elites. As a Christian, I would argue that the Stephen Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03705819485045114741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19337928.post-1143511383323496842006-03-27T19:03:00.000-07:002006-03-27T19:03:00.000-07:00In other words, a constant criticism of Coalition ...In other words, a constant criticism of Coalition force may not be in the best interests of Iraqis right now.<BR/>Whether or not the initial invasion was just or unjust, legal or illegal, the fact is that it happened. Now, whether we like it or not, armed foreign troops are an important part of rebuilding Iraq. Withrawing would mean chaos. Hunting down criminals and terrorists is in the interest Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19337928.post-1143391836304769272006-03-26T09:50:00.000-07:002006-03-26T09:50:00.000-07:00There is more irony to be uncovered. CPT goes to I...There is more irony to be uncovered. CPT goes to Iraq to monitor human rights abuses by Coalition forces. And then they are kidnapped by Iraqis. And then the Coalition forces rescue them. <BR/><BR/>I don't think the Ambassador said that CPT was cooperating with what you call "insurgents". He said that CPT's activities aid the "insurgent" activity. There is a difference. Perhaps the CPT should Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19337928.post-1143333181425288822006-03-25T17:33:00.000-07:002006-03-25T17:33:00.000-07:00For the Iraqui ambassador to be calling someone el...For the Iraqui ambassador to be calling someone else a "dupe" is particularly rich, don't you think? It's pretty clear what the Christian Peacemakers' understanding of their task is in Iraq: to draw attention to human rights abuses by the occupation forces and, particularly, to help the families of detainees learn of the whereabouts of their loved ones. The accusation that the CPT are Stephen Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03705819485045114741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19337928.post-1143330929550348152006-03-25T16:55:00.000-07:002006-03-25T16:55:00.000-07:00The Iraqi embassy to Canada called the CPT teams s...The Iraqi embassy to Canada called the CPT teams stupid and ignorant dupes who are underming democracy in Iraq. What's your response?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com