The Washington Post talked with Jill soon after her release, quoting her as saying that her orderal felt “like falling off a cliff for three months." They also ran a picture [from Getty Images] of Jill right after she was freed. She looks healthy and certainly happy to be free. Here are some excerpts from the Washington Post feature that ran today.
BAGHDAD, March 30 — Jill Carroll wondered from day to day whether she would grow old or die a hostage. "It was like falling off a cliff for three months, waiting to hit the ground," the 28-year-old American reporter said Thursday after being released by her kidnappers. A shuffle from car to street to the branch office of a Sunni Arab political party and then to its headquarters brought Carroll to freedom on a beautiful spring day in Baghdad.
I’m really ecstatic and grateful that our prayers have been answered. I can’t wait to see Jill, hug her and never let her go. Meanwhile, I’m off to Seattle in a few hours to attend a family wedding. I guess today I have two reasons to celebrate: A blessed matrimony, and a friend’s long-awaited freedom realized. Life can’t get any better. Thank you God.
Jim, thanks for taking notice! I have to do this quite a bit myself as a Christian…and as a pro-Palestinian Evangelical Christian, have found the only people who shared my view on Palestine were potty-mouthed, Jew-hating pro-Nazis who got banned from the blog I was commenting on!
My brother is an atheist and we get on really well, so I don’t have any animosity toward atheists.
As an atheist, I want to apologize for the ugliness coming from Edward Robby. (Yet another example of Prup’s Law. “Whatever position you take on a political, social, or religious issue, you’ll have a few idiots agreeing with you.”)
“She’s Safe in the Green Zone”
She’s safe in the green zone, but will home paint her red?
Will the news repeat words she bleed, again and again?
My patriotism can die for her who’s not dead
“With machine guns pointed at my head, ” she said,
“I unfortunately damned my country’s military men.”
She’s safe in the green zone, but will home paint her red?
The picture stills show she’d been well fed
With food of fear, but our prayers sent—Amen!
My patriotism can die for her who’s not dead
We now wait for forced words like pestilant spread
To fly April skies like a broken winged Wren
She’s safe in the green zone, but will home paint her red?
Will we forget the tears we easily shed?
Cheer the strike and the slash from the powerful pen?
My patriotism can die for her who’s not dead
So I ask for your scruples to now be proofread
She’s trapped again like a toddler in a baracaded playpen
She’s safe in the green zone, but will home paint her red?
My patriotism can die for her who’s not dead
Along with you the millions of compassionate individuals representing so many faiths and nationalities, and especially the readers of The Jareer, what is sad is this: now the Christian Science Monitor says on its website, invking the name of its founder Mary Baker Eddy the fraud and faker and charlatan and this is how Jill is going to be remembered? For being a Christian Scienctist? OUCH!
quote: “the CSM and its website who’ve stood with Jill during her captivity — our hearts are full of gratitude to god ????? for this breakthrough. We cannot help but think of the opening line HA HA HA of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by the Monitor’s FAKE founder, Mary Baker Eddy: “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.”
SO now the CSM is bringing its fake faith into its editrial columns. weird. loom, jareer, i am so pleased jill is free, but this god stuff is for the birds. think. hard.
THe CSM editorial goes ON in religious fashion that should make all Americans blush with shame: “And yet, the immense efforts to secure one reporter’s release ultimately must be for some larger cause, ? for something beyond the one news bulletin we’ve longed to hear every day since Jan. 7, when Jill was captured and her translator was killed. Anyone who is being held captive, out of any willful passion or purpose, should be freed. Those who have been kidnapped before and after Jill must have their freedom, too. In fact, even kidnappers themselves deserve freedom from the kind of imprisonment their lives represent. OH SO CHRIST IS BEHIND ALL THIS? or MARY MARKER EDDY?
We hope and trust in the power of divine grace: ? That continued prayer – and political and diplomatic efforts somehow moved by this profound mental and spiritual force — will help eradicate the whole plague of kidnapping and terrorism, of violent action and reaction. The people of a region known as “the cradle of civilization” have rights beyond the human and political to enjoy the blessings of a civil and calm society.
We’re deeply thankful for the monumental labors that went on in agencies and offices of the United States government, within the government of Iraq, and among individuals in Iraq and worldwide. To everyone who offered private and published messages of support along the way, you have our heartfelt thanks.
The entire staff of this newspaper, in particular its international editors, writers, and management, worked virtually around the clock on Jill’s behalf. Their extraordinary work during this difficult period made it possible to continue publishing a news product worthy of the Monitor’s name and reputation.
What can be said of Jill’s mother, father, and sister that could speak any louder than their public example of steadfast love and resolute advocacy? And their sincere concern for others being held captive concurrently with Jill? We rejoice in their long-awaited happy reunion with their daughter and sister.
It is a sad fact, however, that many kidnappings in Iraq have not turned out as favorably as this one. We’re also mindful of concerns that have been raised about Jill’s mental and emotional state after weeks of duress. Whatever may be needed to help her re-adjust will be provided.
Prayer ? and brotherly-sisterly love have proved their potency. PRAYER IS BS. What greater good can be accomplished if we stay with them? One sure effect is the softening of hardened hearts, mostly, of course, in the ones doing the praying. In the spirit of doing unto others what we would want done unto us — that is, in the Golden Rule that is found in every major religion — we reach out to Jill’s captors and those who still hold others hostage. May they find a purpose closer to that for which Jill Carroll is now known — constructive, street-level compassion for all the people of Iraq, and an unbiased love for all mankind.
A loved Bible proverb says, “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” Jill Carroll’s freedom is truly good news to rejoice in, as is the fact to so many of us today: Iraq is no longer a “far country.”
nice words. hollow.
Dear Edward,
It is sad that all what you have mentioned happen, but there is also evil ( I hope I havent added insult to your injury.) I just simply do not put my trust and eternity in the hands of a 6th-grade biology teacher who tries to convince you of evolution; that simply doesnt fly.
When people deny God and kick Him out of their lives and schools and courts and curse His name left and right, and violate his will like drinking water; you do not come here and say why He allowed certain things to happen; I am not saying that He allowed such things, but at least, when human have respect to God, then they come and accuse Him of such tragedies happening to them. When good things happen, they praise mother nature, but when bad things happen, they curse God!