Posted on 06/03/2014 11:52:24 AM PDT by Persevero
Bob Henley, former pastor at the(ir) Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood, recalled how friends periodically would ask Bergdahl if he hadn’t crossed some line, if he hadn’t succumbed to some form of the captive-bonding Stockholm syndrome.
But Bergdahl assured his friends he was just doing whatever he could to ensure his son’s release. “I guess you really had to be in his shoes,” Henley said.
The five-year waittook a toll on both of his parents, according to friends and others .
Bergdahl is fiercely intelligent, friends said, yet he dropped out of college, going to Idaho with his wife in 1980 after studying at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He taught himself Pashto. He is religious, at one point making the 300-mile round trip a couple of times a month to attend an Orthodox Presbyterian church in Boise with his family.
Bergdahhas said he grew his beard as a chronology marking the time that his son was missing. Bergdahl also did it in a bid to win sympathy from his son’s captors.
At the time their son was taken, the Bergdahls were attending a conservative Presbyterian church in Boise. Glenn Ferrell was the pastor.(H)e talked at length with Bergdahl, as the father questioned and probed his own beliefs to reach some understanding of the radical Islam driving the Taliban.
Bergdahl also talked with Mark Stephensen, a board member of the National League of POW/MIA Families, who lives in Boise. Stephensen’s father was a Vietnam War MIA for 21 years. Stephensen saw how Bergdahl had changed his appearance and altered his interests to align with his son’s experience.
“I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt,” Stephensen said, “because, by the grace of God, I wasn’t in his position.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I wouldn't necessarily look to the WaPo for understanding. I prefer to rely on the the statements of his fellow soldiers and his own words which seem to be quite incriminating.
Yep. Why isn’t “bob” giving the Taliban the finger for capturing his son and holding him against his will for five years? (”allegedly”) Why isn’t he cursing and condemning the Taliban? Because he’s apparently batshit crazy for one thing, and probably a terrorist sympathizer.
- a family that are members of Bible believing churches with credible pastors for decades being accused of being Muslim sleepers
- a conservative Christian who suddenly spouts Pashto
Being a member of a good Church, although a good thing, really does not allow us to see into one's heart... When trials come, they may abandon the Faith that they once claimed. The Apostle John talked about this in his first epistle
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
I.e., these kind of things were happening in the First Century. Maybe they weren't spouting praises to Allah, but at the time of trials they were praising whatever deity Satan was pushing.
The fire of the furnace separates the dross from the precious.
No, I am not the judge - but I would not say that the examples you cited don't make sense. Similar actions have been all too common in the past.
Really - this belittled the WH? Obama is the Champion WH Belittler and was loving every minute of it (you can see the big smile clearly). I am sure he and Bergdohl shared a little muslim prayer just before coming outside.
Here is another opinion that puts some historical perspective to this strange behavior:
http://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2014/06/bergdahls-dad-historical-analogy.html
And this gives us a little more about the euphoria expected by the WH:
http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2014/06/03/quick-thoughts-on-bergdahl-release-and-prisoner-exchange/
and maybe the dad’s politics:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/63497
Then we can expect to see the beard disappear?
Remember, Hasan grew a beard starting with his capture.
I can't believe Bergdahl's emails weren't monitored/censored.
Had my son or daughter sent me messages like that, I would have done my best to contact the unit CO. This wasn't mere griping, something all soldiers do. This was far more than that, and the chain of command had to be made aware of it.
I'm also looking forward to hearing from the young man's squad leader, platoon sergeant, and platoon leader. It was their job to know their soldiers.
The only credible explanation for Bob Bergdahl's behavior is that he has apostatized from the Christian faith. He didn't spend years growing a Muslin style beard or learning Arabic and verses from the Koran as a hobby.
“You’ve been a conservative FReeper in my experience. So WTF, dude? Why are you riding the brakes on Bob Bergdahl?”
I am very conservative.
I just think there’s a rush to judgment, here. Maybe not. I could be wrong. But since I am good friends with a man who is good friends with them I have an unusual interest in the whole thing.
The only reason I can come up with is that it’s part of some deal, he’s being handled, and while I can’t necessarily defend that I put it forward as a possibility.
You may not exaggerate at all. This could be the case.
True, it could have been an elaborate, multi-decade fake job. Not likely, but possible. Towards what end?
“Then we can expect to see the beard disappear?”
Well, I am no fan of beards. No doubt another controversial statement that will get me flamed from all sides!
I don’t know, I’ve been trying to get FReepers to take a breather and consider all angles. Most seem to think there are no other angles to consider.
“If I have any sympathy at all it is for the dozens of families that were devastated when their sons died looking for this POS.”
My sympathy is 100% with them as well and I hope the truth absolutely comes out.
“Their parents have never had a scripted love-fest in the White House Rose Garden, as this deserter’s parents had.”
You can scrutinize my posts for any endorsement of the current admin and you will find none. . . interesting you saw it as scripted as well. . . that is one of the things that makes me go “hmmm.”
0bama uses people like they were cheap whores.
I am just pointing out that the same folks existed in the First Century. Paul has similar remarks in his letter to the Hebrews. The point is that their 'Christianity' never was rooted. Perhaps the Lord Jesus' sayings are better, and clearer:
Matthew 13:3-9 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 13:18-23 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Basically they received the 'seed' on stony ground. It never penetrated their hearts. They enjoyed hearing the word, but when trouble arose - they were quick to leave.
The truth is out. He deserted his unit and at least a half dozen good soldiers died trying to find him.
Unless you have some evidence to support any other theory about what happened, then you wouldn't accept the truth if it bit you on the behind.
He advised his father that he was going to desert and his father advised him to follow his conscience.
And you have "sympathy" for him?
Sorry, I'll reserve my sympathy for the victims of this clown and his clown family.
“And you have “sympathy” for him?”
I have sympathy for his family.
I have concern for him and am reserving judgement.
I believe the reports of the soldiers, but they don’t know first hand what happened. So they are giving their best, educated opinion. There may be more to it, that’s all.
Obviously you don't know the difference between mere opinion and eyewitness testimony. The guys in his unit were witnesses to what he did. They are not providing their opinions but their observations.
Do you consider the Gospels of Matthew and John to be opinion pieces or eyewitness testimony to what Jesus did?
Do you understand the difference?
no need for hostility.
The soldiers didn’t see him walk off base. They do testify that he left certain things behind and so on.
I believe the entire Bible to be the very word of God.
Of course I understand the difference.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.