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Forgiving the unforgivable (Michael Berg forgives Zarqawi for hacking off his sons head)
The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | May 1, 2006

Posted on 04/30/2006 10:19:15 AM PDT by jmc1969

Michael Berg has come to terms with his son's murderer. But to most Americans that man is still enemy No.1, writes Martin Daly in New York.

In the darkness, when the pain becomes too great, Michael Berg pulls out a chair for the man who decapitated his son and talks to him about compassion and forgiveness.

Michael Berg has cried publicly many times for his dead son but he has forgiven Zarqawi, considered by the Americans to be the premier threat to peace in Iraq, but who remains free despite a $US25 million ($33 million) bounty on his head, and the huge numbers of personnel and technological resources being used to track him down.

In offering forgiveness to a man who this week told the world he planned to continue killing, Berg has had to go down dark, complex paths and has had to come to terms with an horrendous loss that has become public property.

(Excerpt) Read more at smh.com.au ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: beheading; bipolar; bizarre; certifiable; checkupfromneckup; coocooforcocoapuffs; crackpot; crazy; forgiveness; hostages; insane; iraq; lunacy; manic; manicepisode; mentalillness; michaelberg; nickberg; nuts; offhismeds; seekhelpmrberg; zarqawi
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To: Popman

The two are NOT mutually exclusive. I think he's both.


121 posted on 04/30/2006 1:52:35 PM PDT by chesley (Liberals...what's not to loathe?)
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To: jmc1969
He has never expressed anger towards Zarqawi as much as his anger towards the United States. This man was involved with ANSERW before his son was murdered. I'm glad he is coming to terms with the enemy but now how about his own country?
122 posted on 04/30/2006 1:52:54 PM PDT by armymarinemom (My sons freed Iraqi and Afghan Honor Roll students.)
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To: P-40
But why would he ask His Father to forgive?

He thought they deserved it because they did not understand what they were doing.

In a previous post you said, "He (the father) cannot forgive for his son."

During the crucifixion, Christ and His Father behaved in a way which is in direct contradiction to your reasoning.

123 posted on 04/30/2006 2:03:12 PM PDT by pax_et_bonum
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To: ga medic

Did President Bush send Berg to the place where he was kidnapped? I don't think so. He put his own self in harms way. I would only forgive zarqawi when his head was rolling down the street and about sixty million muslims were fried.


124 posted on 04/30/2006 2:07:24 PM PDT by catmanblack. (he is the great I AM-)
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To: P-40
The murderer has not served his punishment either so why even think of forgiving him?

I agree that this guy is an idiot for forgiving Zarwhehaw. But about forgiveness...forgiveness as taught by Jesus means to let go of the expectation of punishment and justice. To tell someone that you forgive the debt of justice that they owe but that they still must pay is to make your forgiveness meaningless. If you want justice, seek justice. If you want to forgive, then forgive. But don't seek justice while pretending to be forgiving at the same time.
If I have to pay, I am unforgiven my debt. If you forgive me let me go.

Matthew 18:23-33
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'

125 posted on 04/30/2006 2:17:34 PM PDT by Lester Moore (The headwaters of the islamic river of death and hate originate in Saudi Arabia)
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To: P-40

I wanted to add that forgiving the impenitant is also meaningless.


126 posted on 04/30/2006 2:21:17 PM PDT by Lester Moore (The headwaters of the islamic river of death and hate originate in Saudi Arabia)
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To: Manic_Episode
One must forgive or go mad from hate.

Berg is mad. Where is the foregiveness for George Bush? Berg blames Bush not Zarqawi. Berg hates Bush not Zarqawi. All this talk from Berg about Zarqawi is BS.

127 posted on 04/30/2006 2:24:31 PM PDT by RGSpincich
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To: P-40

No. His father can forgive him for having killed his son.


128 posted on 04/30/2006 2:26:05 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch (Tolerance is the last virtue of a depraved society.)
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To: Manic_Episode
So many people have mangled the Christian concept of forgiveness until it's become unrecognizable.

Christ commanded that His followers forgive once forgiveness was asked and true repentance was shown. This monster who murdered this guys son has done neither.

I am a parent, and I would not forgive anyone who didn't truly ask for it, and then change their ways.

As far as going 'mad', I'm quite capable of killing someone without anger. In fact, anger screw up your thought process making one prone to mistakes.

Forgiveness isn't some trinket you hand out like candy to children. It's a serious matter and this fool debases it with his actions.

L

129 posted on 04/30/2006 2:28:24 PM PDT by Lurker (Anyone who doesn't demand an immediate end to illegal immigration is aiding the flesh trade.)
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To: ga medic

I never said forgiveness is not a good thing, or anything near that. I did say that from Mr. Berg's actions, he appears not to have forgiven Bush, but rather is bitterly attacking him as the killer of his son while paying public lip service to forgiveness so he can win in a political campaign. Grace and forgiveness are free, but not cheap, and not phoney. Re-read my posts before you criticize please.


130 posted on 04/30/2006 2:33:11 PM PDT by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: RGSpincich

Not to be a jerk, but what has Bush done that he needs to be forgiven for?


131 posted on 04/30/2006 2:43:31 PM PDT by mcvey (,)
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To: ga medic
Forgiveness does not mean that he does not want justice, only that he is trying to move on.

I think I understand you, but I think you are in error.
Forgiveness is cancelling the debt of justice that is owed.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1624178/posts?page=125#125

132 posted on 04/30/2006 2:48:40 PM PDT by Lester Moore (The headwaters of the islamic river of death and hate originate in Saudi Arabia)
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To: mcvey
but what has Bush done that he needs to be forgiven for?

Nothing as far as I'm concerned. But Michael Berg sees things differently. He blames Bush for the death of Nick Berg.

133 posted on 04/30/2006 3:23:29 PM PDT by RGSpincich
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To: jmc1969
And this fool is running for Congress.

He can't be any worse than Delaware's current Congressman, mega-RINO Mike Castle.

134 posted on 04/30/2006 3:31:01 PM PDT by darkangel82
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To: Lakeshark

my intent was not to criticize you. I apologize if that was how it came across. He said he has forgiven Bush, that is all that I meant. I don't know whether he means it or not. To me it doesn't matter, I don't think much of him either way. I do feel bad for his suffering and hope for his sake that his forgiveness is genuine and that he can move on.....just not into a political position.


135 posted on 04/30/2006 3:53:01 PM PDT by ga medic
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To: Lester Moore

My definition of forgiveness is just letting go of anger and hatred towards someone who has injured you. It happens in your heart, and does not have any further implications. I could forgive someone for causing me injury, and still support an appropriate legal penalty for the action. I see them as 2 entirely different types of forgiveness. Just my opinion of course.


136 posted on 04/30/2006 4:00:25 PM PDT by ga medic
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To: jmc1969

That's fine if he wants to forgive Zarqawi. It does NOT mean that Zarqawi should not still be punished for his actions.


137 posted on 04/30/2006 4:04:00 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: jmc1969

I could never forgive and I could never forget.

I would rather die trying to find and dispatch, any soulless animal that did that to one of my loved ones.


138 posted on 04/30/2006 4:09:42 PM PDT by Gator113
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To: jmc1969
Berg, who blames George Bush as much as anyone for the death of his son because he started and perpetuated the war. But he has, he says, forgiven Bush too.

George Bush did nothing to be 'forgiven' for. Nicholas Berg was not a soldier who would be under orders from George Bush as Commander in Chief to go to Iraq. Nicholas had no business being there. His decision to go placed him in jeopardy. I wonder if Michael has forgiven Nicholas for doing such a stupid thing.

I'm not being flippant here. Sometimes parents have a hard time dealing with the deaths of children who had made really stupid decisions which caused their deaths. Forgiving them their immaturity or bad judgement sometimes lets them let go of their children more easily, and eases their minds.

139 posted on 04/30/2006 4:10:36 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: ga medic
I completely agree.

Forgiveness is a matter of cleaning the heart. Jesus said "love your enemy"...it has nothing to do with dispatching the enemy or not. It just means don't become infected with hatred.

Everyone knows the better fighter keeps his head...anger/hatred is a bad motivator.

140 posted on 04/30/2006 6:01:28 PM PDT by Dark Skies
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