www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Saddam Captured!

Perhaps now some of the violent attacks against our soldiers in Iraq will cease. Perhaps more of our men can come home to their families for Christmas.

Sam

I woke up to the wonderful news this morning!

Praise be to God, our troops were given a wonderful Christmas gift.

Dear Sam,

I think we'll find that the attacks will increase now, and early reports from the generals in the field seem to be fearing this.

In addition, Iraqis who are against the Coalition forces are saying they oppose them not because of Saddam, but because they are defending Islam and Iraq.

Saddam's relevance in that area died out some time ago. His symbolic relevance for the President, the American people AND the electoral process has not.

Alex

Dear Alex,

I agree with you. I heard reports that a lot of Iraqis who wanted to join the resistance wouldn't because they didn't want to be seen as fighting for a restoration of Hussein. Now that Hussein is captured they don't have to worry about people getting that impression.

In Christ,
Anthony

Dear Anthony,

A very good point that I overlooked!

Alex

Alex,

I agree with you absolutely; anyone who thinks differently is going to be sadly disappointed. Hopefully, until such time a they are withdrawn, I hope that Coalition forces aren't lulled into a false sense of security - if so, I fear they will suffer for it.

Many years,

Neil

Alex,

I agree his relavance waned a long time ago for that. However, in this country one of the cries of so many, who are against what is being done, is well he hasn't gotten Sadam yet. Well for this country that can no longer be said and it can't be held over our heads, EITHER FROM WITHIN OR WITHOUT.

We know now or it apears to be that he has been irrevelant to what has been happening for some time. But, he is a lier and a theif, and having him in our hands brings closier to the Iraqi people that he will now return as a dictator.

There is still going to be violence because people don't want a democratic government in that part of the world. There are those who live a lie, the prince of this world desires to keep so many in bondage.

I have had the opportunity to speak with a priest from Pakistan. There they do not know wether they will make it through the day or not. When they are together for Mass, the police have to surround the church. Otherwise, the Islamic extremists will come by and close the windows and doors, barring them in there so they can't escape, and just start shooting, basically executing the Christians. This is a country that is suppose to be allowing freedom of worship.

In this country we are fighting a battle against our liberties of worship being taken from us. We must try to help others to have the freedom to grow in Christ! As much as I realize this is not necessarily the purpose of what America is doing there, it is my hope for the people of that country.

Rose

Dear Rose,

I agree that Saddam's capture means much, much more to Americans today - even though it will rile the Islamic militants as well.

As for democracy, I think the U.S. should really stop thinking that the world wants to be as we are.

Islamic countries will not accept democracy because for them there is no "choice" in accepting the Koran or not.

The Catholic Church is also not a democracy, (and it has given up the old medieval notion of controlling secular society) - although wayward Catholics are not beaten on the soles of the feet for breaking the rules . . .

America is a great democratic country because it has welded free choice and personal freedoms with a sense of tradition and responsibility toward one's community and country.

Ultimately, under the Anglo-American system, people will freely choose to do the "right thing."

The idea that people should have the freedom not to do so is simply unthinkable in many other countries.

And most republics of this world are dictatorships at the best of times.

Alex

Dear Neil,

I too fear the worst in the aftermath of this.

The happiness of even the reporters on CNN at the capture of Hussein appears to bring home to many even moderate Muslims that the West is "anti-Islamic."

My old boss once told me, "Well, I see the West is fighting with Islam."

I didn't mind shooting back "For over 1200 years, have you only just noticed?"

God bless, Melk-Man!

Alex

Alex,

Agreed. We of the West (geographically) - especially Americans - have done a poor job of enunciating a distinction between our stance vis-a-vis Islamic extremism and Islam. (Sometimes, one has to wonder if that is purposeful or, maybe worse, that we don't even understand that there is a distinction to be made.)

Similarly, we can easily be seen by others as making no differentiation between Muslims as a religious entity and Arabs as an ethnic entity. (All Muslims are Arabs; therefore, all Arabs are Muslims - a logic that fails on all counts.)

Many years,

Neil

Dear Neil,

Yes - brilliantly said!

Alex

Dear Orthodox-Catholic,

I heard that the new Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin is actually on speaking terms with the US President. It would appear that Canada will try to broker a deal with the ROW (Rest Of the World) to help with the peace in the region.

On a separate note, the good news is that the new Canadian Prime Minister has a good number of Greek Catholics in his electoral district in Montreal (LaSalle-Emard, Quebec). Many Ukrainians settled in LaSalle after WW2. For this reason one of the main streets in the town is named 'Shevchenko Boulevard'. Many belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic churches of St-Basil (Lachine) and Holy Ghost (Montreal) which immediately bound LaSalle-Emard. Also, the Romanian Greek Catholic churh has a parish in Emard (former UGCC parish of St-John).

Dear Hritziu,

Yes, I understand the same!

I'd really hate for the Americans to be mad at us for too much longer . . .

I remember when President George Bush Senior was elected.

When they told him about Ontario, I understand that he initially thought it was a new frozen dessert . . .

And the only thing he wanted to know about it was whether one ate it on a stick or with a spoon . . .

God bless America!

Alex

Dear Alex,

Ontario is a racetrack in California!!! :p :p :p

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

Excellent point Alex!

What I want to know is who is it that militant Muslims don't hate?

Peace to Iraq.

Paul