Why is it that people can not see the idiocy inherent...?

Question

In fighting terrorists by bombing them? Futhermore, since Christ taught us to turn the other cheek, how is this message so horribly misconstrued? When we take the life of a man, his son will grow up to follow in his fathers footsteps. These are people, flesh and blood, not monsters, and they will respond to kindness with kindness. If we examine why most of them are angered with us, and find a way to make amends for it (they do in fact deserve at least an apology) wouldn't that take the wind out of their proverbial sails? And before I am asked...
If killing him were my only other option, yes. I gain nothing by taking his life, except creating another terrorist. His children will grow up fatherless, and be lead down the same path. Perhaps through my sacrifice he could learn that we are not all evil.
Regards,
Will
This was the response to a question I recieved in an email. The question was, "would you really give your life to save a terrorist?"

Answer 1

Hello Sinyckel.. :)

Jesus said: those who live by the sword shall die by the sword..

Did not Stephen die without fighting back..he said Father forgive them, as they laid Stephen's clothes at they feet of Saul (Paul) who consented to Stephen's death..

We are to Love our enemies..and pray for those that despitefully use us..

Do not repay evil for evil..but repay evil with Love..

There is NOWHERE in the New Testament it says it is alright to kill another person, for ANY REASON..

James 4

1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Prov. 3.34

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

11 ¶ Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

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Yes..I would die for a terroist..for in doing so, I am obeying the Lord..

For if we truly disciples of the Lord, we will lay down our life for our friend..and who is our friend..but everyone that the Lord hath made in His image..

In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..In Christ.. :)

Answer 2

Very nice point brought up. I agree with a lot of your thoughts on this issue. The sad thing about it is is that regardless of whether they have parents or not, some children of terrorists are brought up in schools to literally hate Americans. They are taught to hold arms, and are taught the virtues of suicide (terrorists have a mentality that goes beyond just killing Americans when they do suicide bombings). I think it helps to have parents, but the information can still get to them. On the whole of the question though, I agree that killing them is not the best way (as we can see by the war's progress). An apology would be nice, but I think we need more global action, and this might not even wipe away all terrorists. Hope I helped.

Answer 3

First of all.....THEY deserve an apology?? For Bombing US??? I respectfully disagree.

Secondly, I'm not entirely certian your theory holds. Killing the father makes the son a terrorist? So what you are telling me is that every single terrorist in the world today grew up fatherless. And every fatherless child will grow up to be a terrorist. I don't buy that....I know too many young men who grew up fatherless.

I will agree with you that these me are flesh and blood, and not monsters. However, they were raised with a different mindset from ours. Their belief is that we, as non-Muslims, are not worthy of life. This belief was ingrained by their society at an early age. I don't think they will accept kindness from the infidels. Even if they do, I doubt that they will accept it as a reason to lay down arms. However, I do admire you sense of sacrifice.

Answer 4

This is shown more by the conflict in the middle east. Many Lebanese returning to the south to find the devastation the Israelis have left now support Hezbollah, where they did not before.

Admittedly, Hezbollah have vowed not to stop until Israel now longer exists, so negotiations may be difficult - but Hamas once were the same, and now have become an accepted (if not particularly loved) political faction and have accepted peace.

The diplomatic solutions should always be explored first, bombing solves nothing.

Answer 5

Ego.

People cannot put aside their ego and not 'be right'. They think if they do not have some sort of Ideal to fight for that life is useless which is entirely baseless. Will we let our egos get in the way so much that the next time a bomb goes it's from the little red button that wipes out half the earth in one shot and then creates hell on earth for the survivors? I certainly hope that people can see that we all are human, we all bleed red and we all have the same hopes and dreams for our loved ones.. which is usually a better life than the one we have led.

Answer 6

I'm all for discussion and compromise. Just how do you compromise with someone who's goal is to make the world a theocracy and feels OK with killing others to accomplish this goal?

We have to accept at some time or another there will be people who cannot be reasoned with. Could we reason with Hitler? You think Osama will listen?

Yes, the violence makes more monsters but due ti the religious fervor these groups have they will create the monsters regardless.

Answer 7

This is very admirable sentiment it is just not realistic. The accomodation you may have to make may be more than just being kind it may actually lead to the killing of other innocent people. This would mean that you would have to find some way to intervein and we would be back to war again. This is a very sad World we live in. You can of course continue to be kind and thoughtful as a person to do what you can to make things better. It is really all an individual can do.

Answer 8

Ya know, normally I would agree with you. I see killing as pointless and harmful. But we are talking about people that fly planes into buildings, Hijack, planes and blow them up.

These aren't peace loving people going about their lives. They are radicals who believe theirs is the only religion and anyone who is not of their faith must die so the earth will be cleansed. I don't mean all Muslims. Just the ones who go to these drastic measures. In this case, we must fight fire with fire because it is all they know and all they respond too. I feel for the children of these people because they are growing up with the hate of their fathers. Some of the children are groomed from the beginning to be suicide bombers. How can anyone be that way?

There have been terrorists throughout our history and we will probably never be free of them. But I don't see how showing these people love and understanding will do anything except get the rest of us killed. No, I would not die for a terrorist, but If I were face to face with one, and I had the opportunity to kill him before he killed me, you bet I would do it.

Answer 9

No need to misconstrue turn the other cheek. Re-read it.
You think God wanted flight 93 to turn the other cheek? Paalleeaassee. You make it sound as if Christians shouldn't defend themselves? Christians are not weak. Turn the other cheek on religious and political discussions. Defend your right to live.

Answer 10

How do we stop them then?
We can turn the other cheek & then what? I lost two very good friends in a field in Pennsylvania. Others lost family. If we turn the other cheek, they won't. They will get stronger & try once again to wipe us out. We are not the bad guys, but we will suffer if they are allowed to get stronger again.

Answer 11

My friend you are sadly mistaken about the desires of the terrorist mind, especially the type that is formed from religious ideas. The radical Islamic factions feel it is their god-given task to wipe Americans (and all our allies) off of the face of the earth. They will NOT respond to kindness or logic. This is unfortunate, I don't like war or killing, but the reality is that, unless you are willing to be killed by someone that hates you, it is your life or theirs. If you are willing to die in order to avoid this situation, that is your right. I am not, if anyone(terrorist or not) wants to kill me or my family, I will fight them to the death. As far as my elected government is concerned, I want them to fight to the death to protect me and my fellow countrymen (including you).