Thought Theater

Victim Redefined: The Jill Carroll Saga genre: Just Jihad & Six Degrees of Speculation

Am I missing something? When did the remarks made by people kidnapped in Iraq become the measure of one's status as a victim? Unless I am mistaken, being taken against one's will and witnessing one's translator being murdered does constitute a crime and does make one a victim.

If I understand the issue, the fact that Jill Carroll made remarks after her release that can be interpreted as sympathetic to the insurgents has raised the ire of many neo-con supporters of the Iraq war and the policies of the current administration.

If I understand this new victim equation, had Jill Carroll been murdered and her body was subsequently found, she would have been seen as a full-fledged victim. Unfortunately, the fact that she was released and made her statement means she wasn't actually a real victim, but more likely a collaborating propagandist.

Let's assume that Jill Carroll was able to negotiate her release by virtue of an ability to express an understanding of the motivations and objectives of her captors...say she convinced them she was sympathetic to their cause. Further, let's assume she agreed to make the statements she made as part of her negotiated release. Finally, let's also conclude that upon her release, she had no obligation to make the statement she agreed to make.

Apparently, those criticizing Ms. Carroll ceased all further analysis at this point. Unfortunately, our poisoned partisan environment has seemingly overtaken any obligation to apply additional reasoned and rational thought. That's unfortunate.

Regardless, I felt compelled to offer another perspective. Three years into a conflict with no certain end in sight has led me to conclude that what we need may not be more of the same. Henry Kissinger used to talk about detente when speaking about the Middle East. Since 9/11 such thinking is characterized as unpatriotic if not outright treason by the neo-cons.

Absolutist banter now permeates both sides of most arguments and issues...especially Iraq and the 'war on terror'. Ironically, at the same time, most people, if confronted, would acknowledge the likely end result of such discourse...look no further than the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. And yet, when the issue is our own (i.e. - American safety and security), we succumb to the same dogmatic, non-retractable positions. Clearly, history tells us the longer the conflict festers, the more recalcitrant both sides become.

Before making any conclusions it’s important to point out some critical background influences. One, this administration has repeatedly linked 9/11 to Iraq...not by saying Iraq participated in 9/11...but clearly by saying that Iraq is the battlefield upon which the 'war on terror' is being waged. Polls confirm the effectiveness of this manipulative mantra. Add the new phraseology of Islamo-Extremists to the equation and you have now further broadened the assault, the scope, and the divide. Now toss in longstanding sectarian conflicts, Kurdish independence, and Shia animosity at years of Sunni dominance and oppression. This seems pretty complicated to me.

Again, we're over three years into this conflict and some argue we are closer to civil war than to democratic civility. The history of societies has always proven that rule or change by the application of power will eventually fail if it doesn't include persuasion...that being winning over the hearts and minds of those you seek to rule or change.

So where does that leave us with Jill Carroll's remarks and the Iraq situation. I don't know Jill Carroll so I can only offer plausible observations. What I have read is that she is sincere in her concern for Iraq and the outcome of this war. She is respectful of Iraqi cultural and religious influences. She has tried to be a voice of moderation. Nonetheless, she was kidnapped by those who saw her as a target and a tool in their efforts to prevail.

Most importantly, she was apparently able to convince them of her sincerity and her integrity...she changed their hearts and minds to some degree...first to convince them to release here. Secondly, by completing her promise to make the remarks she demonstrated sincerity in contrast to those who see using innocent individuals as a means to an end. Again, she didn’t have to keep any promise she may have made once she was released but she must have convinced her captors that she had the integrity to do as agreed…despite the circumstances. As it turns out, while the remarks were coerced, she still acted honorably.

Blaming Jill Carroll for the remarks she made to save her life is tantamount to asking her to commit suicide. Is this consistent with the culture of life? It’s reprehensible that the same people who tried to prevent the death of Terry Schiavo because she could not speak for herself now choose to condemn Ms. Carroll because she spoke out in order to save her own life. Her captor’s actions were criminal and heinous but her actions apparently touched some portion of their humanity...found some common ground upon which to agree...is that so bad? Quite frankly, unless we find some additional common ground in Iraq, the combatants will remain locked in perpetual conflict as sworn and reviled enemies. When absolute ideology is allowed to dehumanize, resolution can only be achieved through the barrel of a gun. Perhaps that can work but it hasn’t proven all that effective to this point.

Lastly, as a non-believer, I am fascinated by the fact that on both sides of this conflict and many other long standing conflicts are individuals with fervent religious beliefs. I don't know Jill Carroll's personal religious beliefs, but I'm willing to assert that her actions better typify religious principles than the combatants on all sides of the Iraq conflict. If we can't find some common humanity, we are destined to lessen all of humanity. As it stands now, there will continue to be many more victims…regardless of how one defines the concept. War may allow for humanity to be suspended, but in the long run it is only our humanity that can suspend war.