Compassion towards a murderer...
I'm sure that all of you know about Brian Nichols' violent actions in the courtroom and his subsequent escape. What I didn't know up until right now is that the hostage that he took, Ashley Smith, did not do what most frightened hostages would have done (cower in fear and hope for the best) - rather, she fed him, read to him from the Bible, and told him about her own tragedy of losing her husband. Obviously struck by kindness from someone he threatened with death, Nichols proclaimed her to be "an angel from heaven." Such compassion for her captor astounds me - I doubt that I would have been able to exhibit such humanity. Cynics would say that this is a short-term episode of Stockholm Syndrome - the identification with the captor by the hostage - but I believe that this comes from Ms. Smith's deep-rooted compassion and non-violence not towards her captor but rather a fellow human being in need. I am deeply touched by her kindness in the face of danger, and only hope that I can exhibit such a refined spirit. Undoubtedly, Ashley Smith's actions during her captivity are the perfect example of everything that I have been working towards! Even though she is a Christian and I am not, obviously compassion is not dictated by religious affiliation alone. I applaud her fine actions and shamefully look back at my poor and inadequate spirit.