Responding to Evil
Over 200 girls kidnapped from their school. Kidnapped by Islamists who intend to sell the girls into slavery.
When the event first occured my gut level response was anger. I believe it was righteous anger. Righteous or not it was anger. What has been done to these girls is evil. It is not a difference of opinion or a case of "my truth is different than your truth". It is evil.
My first response was "I need to buy a rifle and plane ticket". The need to correct this evil was so strong I wanted to go in person to see justice done. Regardless of how unrealistic that impulse is that was my impluse. However killing the terrorists (and that is the correct term for these men) who have done this would be repaying evil with evil. These terrorists are still men and may some day be capable of repentence and redemption. If I, or someone else, kills them that possibility is removed.
My second response was equally unrealistic. These men wish to sell the girls? Then fine. Let us, the civilized world, buy them. The girls are rescued from their captivity and returned to their families. Putting aside the issue of where the money would come from this idea has other problems. The terrorists would be enriched by this course of action. That money would no doubt be used by the terrorists to further their goals. Instead of solving the problem it would only make the problem bigger. Next time it might be 500 girls kidnapped. Furthermore this response leaves the girls and all other people in that part of the world in danger from these same terrorists. Buying their freedom would legitimize the terrorists' actions.
What would be a correct response? I'm still angry. I do not want these men to be able to terrorize anyone ever again. I want these girls rescued.
I fear that nothing will be done. The world community will beat its chest about this evil but ultimately take no action.
My second fear is that a military operation will be clumsily and ham-handedly carried out. It will not remove the terrorist threat in that region and it will not rescue the girls.
When the event first occured my gut level response was anger. I believe it was righteous anger. Righteous or not it was anger. What has been done to these girls is evil. It is not a difference of opinion or a case of "my truth is different than your truth". It is evil.
My first response was "I need to buy a rifle and plane ticket". The need to correct this evil was so strong I wanted to go in person to see justice done. Regardless of how unrealistic that impulse is that was my impluse. However killing the terrorists (and that is the correct term for these men) who have done this would be repaying evil with evil. These terrorists are still men and may some day be capable of repentence and redemption. If I, or someone else, kills them that possibility is removed.
My second response was equally unrealistic. These men wish to sell the girls? Then fine. Let us, the civilized world, buy them. The girls are rescued from their captivity and returned to their families. Putting aside the issue of where the money would come from this idea has other problems. The terrorists would be enriched by this course of action. That money would no doubt be used by the terrorists to further their goals. Instead of solving the problem it would only make the problem bigger. Next time it might be 500 girls kidnapped. Furthermore this response leaves the girls and all other people in that part of the world in danger from these same terrorists. Buying their freedom would legitimize the terrorists' actions.
What would be a correct response? I'm still angry. I do not want these men to be able to terrorize anyone ever again. I want these girls rescued.
I fear that nothing will be done. The world community will beat its chest about this evil but ultimately take no action.
My second fear is that a military operation will be clumsily and ham-handedly carried out. It will not remove the terrorist threat in that region and it will not rescue the girls.