CPT Press Release: We Mourn the Loss of Tom Fox
In grief we tremble before God who wraps us with compassion. The death of our beloved colleague and friend pierces us with pain. Tom Fox’s body was found in Baghdad yesterday.
Christian Peacemaker Teams extends our deep and heartfelt condolences to the family and community of Tom Fox, with whom we have traveled so closely in these days of crisis.
We mourn the loss of Tom Fox who combined a lightness of spirit, a firm opposition to all oppression, and the recognition of God in everyone.
We renew our plea for the safe release of Harmeet Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember. Each of our teammates has responded to Jesus’ prophetic call to live out a nonviolent alternative to the cycle of violence and revenge.
In response to Tom’s passing, we ask that everyone set aside inclinations to vilify or demonize others, no matter what they have done. In Tom’s own words: “We reject violence to punish anyone. We ask that there be no retaliation on relatives or property. We forgive those who consider us their enemies. We hope that in loving both friends and enemies and by intervening nonviolently to aid those who are systematically oppressed, we can contribute in some small way to transforming this volatile situation.â€
Even as we grieve the loss of our beloved colleague, we stand in the light of his strong witness to the power of love and the courage of nonviolence. That light reveals the way out of fear and grief and war. . .
(what is especially stirring is to see this press release running right now at Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera: Body of US hostage found
NY Times: Christian Worker Kidnapped in Iraq Last Year Is Found Slain
Also on this day of mourning, I think it is appropriate to also remember the victims of the American torture chambers that CPT worked to uncover (see this article from the BBC – http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4484338.stm ), even before the revelations of Abu Gharib.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/11/international/middleeast/11ghraib.html?hp&ex=1142139600&en=762326e6cb35fa0d&ei=5094&partner=homepage
NY Times: Symbol of Abu Ghraib Seeks to Spare Others His Nightmare
Look at the picture of Ali Shalal Qaissi that is in the NY Times article and ask yourself how we allowed this man to be tortured? And we can’t lie to ourselves. We are all responsible for this horror, either directly or indirectly.