tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post7385406930963218605..comments2024-02-09T06:15:27.088-08:00Comments on josh barkey: thoughts on Osama bin Laden (who is dead)JOSH BARKEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02056229250824359708noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-56107498951185918402011-05-06T18:43:59.689-07:002011-05-06T18:43:59.689-07:00Thanks, Bandit!
I suppose that's what the in...Thanks, Bandit! <br /><br />I suppose that's what the internet is for... misunderstanding each other :) Ah, well. We'll just keep on slugging away at it.JOSH BARKEYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02056229250824359708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-48228814480421372002011-05-06T18:22:11.574-07:002011-05-06T18:22:11.574-07:00Re: Misunderstood -
I think you misunderstood me....Re: Misunderstood -<br /><br />I think you misunderstood me. Aren't Christians also supposed to rejoice in death? Isn't it the ultimate and final victory for all of the battles we have fought to finally be given Grace through our faith?<br /><br />I don't know how to show up as "me" - but I am Bandit.<br /><br />I love your blog and wish I could put my thoughts out in the universe as clearly as you.<br /><br />Thanks for your time :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-6520374613749079882011-05-06T04:39:02.073-07:002011-05-06T04:39:02.073-07:00Re: Anonymous person wondering if they misundersta...Re: Anonymous person wondering if they misunderstand me. <br /><br />Answer: Nope.<br /><br />Elaboration: I believe you have made a few false assumptions. First, that every family member of every terrorist is likewise a terrorist. Second, that every terrorist is likewise a jihadist who believes that to die a terrorist is to be rewarded in heaven. And third, that every family member who is involved in the terrorist way of thinking is likewise a somewhat inhuman robot, who doesn't feel the way "we" do about the death of loved ones.<br /><br />It is pleasant and convenient to conceive of a world in which us/them distinctions are easy because some people "just aren't like us." This is not, however, reality.JOSH BARKEYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02056229250824359708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-22766372286456070292011-05-06T02:39:44.397-07:002011-05-06T02:39:44.397-07:00I'm on board with what you said, JB. When I&#...I'm on board with what you said, JB. When I'm watched all those tourists and pedestrians jump around like fleas in front of the White House after they announced bin laden's death, I felt sick. Yes, the dude was evil. But he was fighting for something at least, not money. His methods were crazy and wrong. But let's not get carried away with the amnesia. Evil is always the person without the microphone. Bin Laden called Bush Jr. evil, and he was right. Very conservative estimates say the war in Iraq has cost 100,000 CIVILIAN deaths. How many crippled? Twice that number may be. Bush's war. For nothing but money and power, contracts for companies like Halliburton, Mcdonnell Douglas, Black Water, GE, etc. The hypocrisy is sickening.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07583559761171040090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-28510387428865158912011-05-05T21:16:45.629-07:002011-05-05T21:16:45.629-07:00Re: "Regardless, I follow Jesus and join in m...Re: "Regardless, I follow Jesus and join in mourning with those who mourn - even the families of terrorists."<br /><br />I have come to understand that the families of terrorists do not mourn death - they rejoice. It is still a victory to them whether their loved one dies or is killing their "enemy".<br /><br />Did I misunderstand you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-57479779347099409162011-05-04T20:41:21.946-07:002011-05-04T20:41:21.946-07:00Wow...well said!Wow...well said!Dara Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679138193167886642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-11122546063901825912011-05-04T20:33:22.240-07:002011-05-04T20:33:22.240-07:00Thank you so much for this. I also wrote a blog po...Thank you so much for this. I also wrote a blog post about this very thing last night because I was so troubled in my heart by peoples (christian people) reactions over the fact that bin Laden is dead. I am not nearly as gifted in writing as you... but I feel I am trying to make the same point. Thank-you for sharing your heart and thoughts! And you're welcome to read my blog if you'd like to. http://forevertrue-jj.blogspot.comJacquelynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02341890332260590558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-58100795151809622372011-05-04T07:45:51.254-07:002011-05-04T07:45:51.254-07:00Thanks for your comments.
Martyn John Smith: I s...Thanks for your comments. <br /><br />Martyn John Smith: I sorta-kinda agree with you, although I do tend to lean more heavily towards the "free will" side of the nature/nurture question - mostly because I have spent so much of my life making excuses for the fact that I was mostly just choosing to be a victim all the time. The reason I don't judge Osama Bin Laden comes out of what you've mentioned - that I have never walked in his shoes (or sandals, as the case may be) - but I nonetheless can judge his actions (those I'm aware of, at least. I will grant that he might have done a number of kind, loving things as well) as being despicable, and I can also hold him responsible for making the choice to take those actions. Now what that responsibility-holding might look like is up for debate. <br /><br />Dryden: don't worry too much about me... I'm probably less self-abasing than I've ever been in my life. I guess I just feel that you can't be free of your baggage until you first admit that you're carrying it - which is, I think, an ongoing process. Then you can, as you say, "notice it, take a breath and try not to do it again." You can't be healed until you admit you're not well.<br /><br />Various Anonymous People: y'all should wear capes and masks. That'd be super-cool.JOSH BARKEYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02056229250824359708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-84094955824826983702011-05-03T22:18:27.636-07:002011-05-03T22:18:27.636-07:00I don't like being a shithead, but I'm afr...I don't like being a shithead, but I'm afraid you're right, and I'm glad you're right, about the Jesus' love stuff. Thanks for stating it well.Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16844994874809426755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-41267627071653133882011-05-03T18:56:30.404-07:002011-05-03T18:56:30.404-07:00Maybe people aren't so much pumped that he'...Maybe people aren't so much pumped that he's dead.... I mean he's also just plain caught. either way he cant keep doing the shit he's been doing and that is a huge symbol of hope for people. (obviously other people will keep doing it but he wont) im sure tons of people are very happy about the 'dead' part, but if he was only just caught all the headlines would have read "caught" instead of "dead" and im sure people would be celebrating all the same. the dead part is just the icing on the cake. (chuckle, sorry) <br /><br />Peoples reaction to it might not be a good thing but can anybody honestly say that his capture/death is a bad thing... he would have died of old age anyhow. (chuckle, sorry again)<br /><br />Josh your not as evil as you think you are. :) everyone has evil/mean/horrible thoughts from time to time but not everyone acts on them. and especially not everyone kills on them. he was as evil as evil gets and his life was dedicated to spreading that evil and making people hate and kill others. dont feel guilty for the occasional evil thought/action that runs thru you... just notice it, take a breath and try not to do it again. your nothing like osama buddy.Drydennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-46740964743216070982011-05-03T14:06:16.404-07:002011-05-03T14:06:16.404-07:00I agree with you, Josh. It's definitely been w...I agree with you, Josh. It's definitely been weird to see so many people rejoicing the death of Bin Laden. I'm glad he's not a problem anymore, but I can't say I'm "happy" that he's dead- that just seems kind of wrong as a Christian.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-27155328576945875512011-05-03T12:46:34.261-07:002011-05-03T12:46:34.261-07:00I think Proverbs 24:17-18 has an interesting messa...I think Proverbs 24:17-18 has an interesting message for this situation.<br /><br />"Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him."<br /><br />Interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-61689627611964042442011-05-03T10:28:01.571-07:002011-05-03T10:28:01.571-07:00It's a luxury for us, far away from trial and ...It's a luxury for us, far away from trial and tribulation, to be able to pontificate about what we want, what we believe and what we'd do if such and such happened. <br /><br />In my opinion, every human being has a reason for the stuff they do. It might not be a 'good' reason and it might not be a reason that we like or agree with. It remains, nonetheless, a reason to them - a reason to explain and perhaps justify the decision or action they've made. <br /><br />As I get older I realise that without really trying, I tend to say less about folk and the stuff they've done. I guess, deep down, I realise that if I was them, with their life, outlook, upbringing, peer-group, etc - then I would have done exactly what they've done. <br /><br />Stuff happens. Mostly we only endorse that which fits our worldview and this is true wherever and whoever we are. <br /><br />Thanks for stimulating my thoughts on this issue with your blog post.Martyn John Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-78325605751751768672011-05-03T10:03:20.501-07:002011-05-03T10:03:20.501-07:00Anonymous,The Bible always maintains a clear disti...Anonymous,The Bible always maintains a clear distinction between personal payback and “the sword” of just governmental causes (see Rom.12:14 – 13:7).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-10291581786940560402011-05-03T09:48:05.437-07:002011-05-03T09:48:05.437-07:00Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good t...Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written..., “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “ If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ~ Romans 12:17-21Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-84634207647379245282011-05-03T08:58:46.214-07:002011-05-03T08:58:46.214-07:00That reminds me of the movie "Hart's War,...That reminds me of the movie "Hart's War," in which the titular character does just that. Although he is depicted as a hard man, willing to sacrifice a lot of things to do what he believes is right (continuing to fight by destroying a nearby munitions plant - after being made a POW in WWII), in the end he sacrifices himself to prevent the deaths of soldiers under his "command." Greater love, and all that jive.JOSH BARKEYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02056229250824359708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943366568013445284.post-78261104332580411232011-05-03T08:13:16.801-07:002011-05-03T08:13:16.801-07:00I remember during the mrta crisis, my mom said if ...I remember during the mrta crisis, my mom said if only fujimori would offer himself in exchange for the hostages, what a message that would send to the world. and that, of course, would have been the christ-like thing to do, but how many heads of state would even consider something like that? <br /><br />thanks for this post.eephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513054079408860420noreply@blogger.com