Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig, the two journalists that were kidnapped in Gaza and suffered the humiliation of having to simulate a conversion to Islam in order to save their lives, are now the center of a controversy. Were they correct in simulating the conversion for the sake of their lives, or are they merely cowards for not being willing to die instead of accepting the humiliation? Jeff Jacoby says here that he hopes he would have the courage to take the bullet, admitting implicitly that he does not know how he would have acted.
I think it is too difficult to try to judge these two journalists. I am here sitting very comfortably in front of my computer, with my life secure, far from any imminent threat to it. Centanni and Wiig were not in my current position. Besides, at least Wiig has wife and children. In his case at least, his humiliation has allowed him to be alive and his wife to continue having her husband; his children having their father.
I don’t know if it was cowardice or prudence what moved Wiig and Centanni to do what they did. I do not feel with authority to judge them, and I limit myself to be glad that they are alive and well. Specially in the case of Wiig, husband and father, I am happy to think that those children still have their dad, and a wife still has her husband at her side to raise those children.
And I am also happy to think that such feeling is what sets me apart from the savages that kill “infidels.” I am happy to know that I am heir to a Civilization in which we value every single human life as precious and sacred; heir of a culture in which we firmly believe that we do not have the right to take anyone’s life (with the only exception being legitimate self-defence), regardless of the fact that such person professes a different religion than ours (or no one at all). It makes me feel good to be reminded of why we fight against this barbaric ideology called Islam.
I think it is too difficult to try to judge these two journalists. I am here sitting very comfortably in front of my computer, with my life secure, far from any imminent threat to it. Centanni and Wiig were not in my current position. Besides, at least Wiig has wife and children. In his case at least, his humiliation has allowed him to be alive and his wife to continue having her husband; his children having their father.
I don’t know if it was cowardice or prudence what moved Wiig and Centanni to do what they did. I do not feel with authority to judge them, and I limit myself to be glad that they are alive and well. Specially in the case of Wiig, husband and father, I am happy to think that those children still have their dad, and a wife still has her husband at her side to raise those children.
And I am also happy to think that such feeling is what sets me apart from the savages that kill “infidels.” I am happy to know that I am heir to a Civilization in which we value every single human life as precious and sacred; heir of a culture in which we firmly believe that we do not have the right to take anyone’s life (with the only exception being legitimate self-defence), regardless of the fact that such person professes a different religion than ours (or no one at all). It makes me feel good to be reminded of why we fight against this barbaric ideology called Islam.
10 comments:
I think the way you express yourself here is reasonable. However, I think that this incident is an indication that as a society we are going to need to start changing our definitions of bravery and cowardice. I believe that as a society we ought to look on Centanni and Wiig a cowards. This does not mean they are traitors, or that they ought to be ostracized. However, as a society, we ought to look the other way when we see them on the street. I mean that metaphorically. I hope you understand.
They are cowards. I am not saying I would not be a coward if I were in their position. I pray that I wouldn't be. But, if I were to act as they did, I would expect that a healthy society would shun me.
I hold Centanni and Wiig blameless, even for their comments after being released. Maybe I'm letting my tendency of seeing a silver lining in every cloud get the better of me, but I construe it as springing out of knowledge that the threat to life upon a convert to Islam doesn't cease on being released.
Can you imagine how many Muslims there are who'd leave Islam if only the Damocles Sword of death to apostates were lifted away from their heads? I'd leave all discussion of the people Centanni and Wiig themselves and go for heating the discussion of Islamic forced conversion and execution of apostates. I think it's much more beneficial to the kafir cause.
Zionist Youngster,
The problem is, the subject of Islamic forced conversion and execution of apostates is only being discussed by Islamophobes/racists like us. If Wiig and Centannin would discuss what happened to them and why they did what they did, then the subject would become more mainstreamed.
How many Westerners do you think actually understand this question of yours?
"Can you imagine how many Muslims there are who'd leave Islam if only the Damocles Sword of death to apostates were lifted away from their heads?"
If you asked most people that question, they would think you were a racist or Ilamophobe. Maybe you don't know that because you live in Israel.
Westerners are very ignorant on the subject of Islam, and Centanni and Wiig are only promoting the ignorance.
Those searching for a trouble-free answer to this question will either come away disappointed or delusional—there isn’t one. While I’m certain we’re all relieved that Centani and Wiig still have their heads and that they’ve returned to their families, so too must be agents of jihad; and anything that brings relief or comfort to our enemies should be an anathema to us.
Again, those pasty Americans prove themselves too weak, too life-loving and too free to cede their essential identities at gun point. Centani and Wiig’s conversion, like every other salaam, concession, and act of appeasement is fresh blood for the gaping maw of the ascendant ummah. Are the lives of two men worth that price? Was nearly every major American newspapers refusal to print the Danish cartoons—out of fear of body as well as ego—worth the price? In the short term, for those concerned, yes. In the long term, obviously not—as the story of Mogadishu and paper tigers would soon come back to remind us.
I can’t be “angry” at them for wanting to live and for not wishing to see their families torn apart, but I can’t respect them either. None of us should. It may be cold and unforgiving but that seldom renders things any less true: they purchased their lives at the expense of our liberties; and the returns on that purchase will be our collective, increasing humiliation. Many people hold the opinion that killing the “terrorists” merely incites them to more “terrorism,” but what do you suppose giving them exactly what they want does for their esteem?
I want to echo what DT has to say here. I am not angry with Centanni and Wiig, but I don't respect them personally, and as a society we need to shun cowards.
I too see these two as cowards who should be shunned and not treated as returning heroes. I understand how they could do what they did, might even have done it myself, but that doesn't mean it was the right thing to do. Adding real insult to injury was the praise for Islam and "the warm Palestinian people" that Centanni spouted after his release. This tells me that Centanni does not realize what he has done. I, for one, am never going to believe anything this joker reports or says again.
The fact that they admitted that it was "at gunpoint" is already quite a departure from the whitewashing we're used to. I'd wait a few weeks before expecting them to say anything further in that vein--the time for the shock to wear off.
I just can't bring myself to criticize them from in front of the computer monitor. In Jewish history there's hardly unanimity as to the reaction to forced conversion: some bent their heads to the sword, but others accepted conversion outwardly and led a Jewish life in secret. The ones aren't deemed better than the others in the Jewish view.
Much as I wish Centanni and Wiig to speak out against their captors in a few weeks' time, I'm not holding my breath, and unless I hear of them agreeing to be placed under guard a la Rushdie, I won't blame their silence.
The Patton approach:
Don't be a fool and die for your religion. Let the other sonofabitch die for his.
Reminds me of the tale of the Ulster Protestant who asked to be baptised as a Catholic on his deathbed. The family were horrified until he explained that "It's better one of them going than one of us"
Pastorius, D.T. and Snow, what I consider cowardice (agreeing with you) is their comments after their release. I would not consider them cowards if they were now, after being released, denouncing the kidnapping and the fact that they had to humiliate themselves in order to save their lifes.
I have an example: a taxi driver once told me, with tears in his eyes, that he had to beg for his life to a robber. He told me this with tears in his eyes, and then showed me a gun he had bought and told me he would never again be subjected to such humiliation. That he would never again beg for his life to a criminal. If it came again, he would fight and if necessary die, but taking the other guy with him.
That, my comrades, is a man I feel respect for. I can't blame him for doing what he did (begging for his life). But the fact that he feels shame and swears never to be caught with his pants off (so to speak), makes me respect him as a man determined to fight for his life and dignity.
So, I agree with you in considering Centanni and Wiig as cowards, but not because of what they had to do to save their lives, but for the fact that having being liberated, they still are acting as if a gun was still pointing their heads.
Well put, Jaime. You articulated it perfectly for me.
Thanks.
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