Family Of Beheaded American Seeks Solace (Nicholas Berg)

New York Newsday/AP ^ | May 7, 2005 | Maryclaire Dale

[MisterRepublican]

PHILADELPHIA -- Relatives of Nicholas Berg, the young American entrepreneur beheaded in Iraq, have taken different paths as they've searched for solace in the year since his death.

His father, Michael Berg, has intensified his anti-war activities and traveled the globe to meet families of other civilians kidnapped or slain in Iraq. His weekly peace vigil at a suburban Philadelphia courthouse and frequent interviews contrast sharply with the response of his wife, Suzanne, who has grieved privately since her son's body was found on a Baghdad street on May 8, 2004.

"We're through the worst of the friction that emerged from my wife's very private way of mourning and my very public way of mourning," said Michael Berg, who retired from teaching a few years ago.

"My wife and I will be married 38 years in August. We haven't gotten through 38 years without any problems, but we've learned what our priorities are," he said.

Meanwhile, sister Sara Berg has quietly pursued information on her younger brother's death through the Freedom of Information Act and cautious searches of the Internet, where video of Nick's murder can still be viewed, deepening the family's anguish.

"What if I have a curious child who wants to look that up?" said Sara Berg, who does not yet have children. "Is that still going to be available on the Internet?"

Nick Berg, 26, a small contractor who hoped to find work repairing radio towers in Iraq, went missing April 10, 2004, after leaving his Baghdad hotel.

The video that surfaced shows Berg in an orange jumpsuit being held by captors and then being beheaded by a man who some U.S. officials believe to be Jordanian-based terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who has ties to al-Qaida.

[mlc9852]

I still think this was a very strange case.

[Lizavetta]

I hope the Bergs can somehow overcome their grief over the horrific loss of their son. REgardless of the father's politics it must be so hard to live with not only the death of their son but the way in which he died.

[jocon307]

"I still think this was a very strange case."

No doubt, I'm with the mom though. The dad is a commie nut-job

[Loud Mime]

Blaming his son's death on circumstances instead of the hands of the murderer who weilded the knife is plain stupid. Liberalism does that to people.

[darth]

If someone beheaded my kid I would not care about anything but revenge. Kill the perps and everyone who looked like them. Read a little Steven King for inspiration. I would never forgive or forget. This probably is how I got my nickname, Darth.

[JesseJane]

Nick Berg did not agree with his father and saw a chance to help. I somehow feel Nick's dad by his own angry rhetoric, pushed his son to Iraq. The circumstances of Nick's handoff was also compromised by his fathers interference and temper tantrums. Nick chose his own way, and paid the ultimate price. If dad would've cooled his jets, Nick might've made it home safely. This barbaric act was ignored by the media in the long run. Half the country turned a blind eye to the kind of world Alqueda had brought, and intended and still does intend, to bring to America. Still, they excuse the executioners. Shameful, arrogant, and a dangerous way to think. The massacre of children in Beslan was also met with cold coverage. But again, the MSM, and people like Nicks Dad, blame the wrong people. These sort never wake up. Even with the blood of their own, they deny their own eyes. Unbelievable.

[the Real fifi]

I'm happy to learn that Nicholas' family is not all as crazy as his father is.

[jocon307]

what you said!

[river rat]

This jerk of a father, obviously lost his head years ago..
I was horrified to learn he was a TEACHER!

Wonder how many kid's heads he screwed up....

Semper Fi

[Tribune7]

ping

Berg came from West Chester Pa.

[bikepacker67]

"What if I have a curious child who wants to look that up?" said Sara Berg, who does not yet have children. "Is that still going to be available on the Internet?"

Let's hope so... so that your children can see the ruthless, barbaric, savage TROP'ers for what they really are.

I've often thought that the US media is doing a disservice by sanitizing the actions of these scumbag murderers.

[Tribune7]

IIRC, Michael Moore had interviewed Nick for Fahrenhype & showed the outtakes to his father. Can anyone confirm?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Daddy Berg's nutcase Commie agenda and anti-war "activism" causes the deaths of people like his son. When he points his crooked little Commie finger, THREE of his other crooked little fingers are pointing back at him.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

My husband is in the same line of work at this young man - and times have been tough here in the States in that line, however, you would have to be insane to think you could go to Iraq, alone, and find work - this is my own opinion based on my recollection of the story - if I am wrong I apologize.

[Tribune7]

There was something strange about it.

[baseballmom]

Thanks for the ping.

Sad story. It sounds like the mother, daughter and brother are coping in a mentally healthy manner.

The father is racing around the country blaming Bush for his son's death. It's unreal that he doesn't blame the murdering jihadist terrorists that actually beheaded his son.

Prayers for all of them. I'd be a basket case.

[doug from upland]

Do you know the whole story? Some of the whackjob left actually blame me. No, I'm not kidding.

[baseballmom]

Yes, according to MMore he did interview Nicholas Berg, and only showed it to his father.

You can bet your bottom dollar, if it had been anything disparaging to Bush, it would have been included in the movie.

[baseballmom]

blame you for what?