Over the past couple of weeks, I have been totally captivated by the story of Jill Carroll, the freelance reporter who was kidnapped in Baghdad last January, and released at the end of March.
She recently published her story http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/carroll/index.html?s=u as a 10-part series, which began on Monday August 14, 2006 and ran through August 25, 2006 (10 business days). And an epilogue which was published yesterday.
I think part of what was so cool was that I happened to find a link to it from somewhere when I was web surfing on August 14th. So it was neat to actually get to see each part of the story as it was published every day. And each day left me not wanting to wait until the next day to hear more, like a good episode of "Lost" or "24." Except this was not fiction.
I cannot pinpoint exactly what about it was so consuming. It was all I could think about for days, although I didn't really mention that to anyone else. But I think it had something to do with the down-to-earth writing style of Jill Carroll, coupled with the US side of the story by Peter Grier (a staff writer where Jill worked) interspersed in the article for contextual purposes. Plus the streaming video of Jill and others involved in her eventual release. I guess it's just striking that she seems so down-to-earth. She's not that much younger than I. She seems like the kind of person who could be one of my friends. Or me. It was easy to put myself in her shoes and become completely engrossed in the story. I admire her courage. If I could have half that much courage and wisdom in everything I encounter in my life, I'd be well off.
Now, I don't want to raise expectations too high. I may be the only one to be quite so fascinated. But still, you should read her story when you get a chance. http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/carroll/index.html?s=u I enjoyed it very much, and learned a lot too.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
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Hi there. I came across your blog while reading about Jill Carroll. Her story has also captivated me as well, since day one when the news broke that she was kidnapped. I live in the Boston area (about 15-20 minutes from the Christian Science Monitor main headquarters where Jill currently works) so her story has been all over the place here. She's only a bit under two years older than me so I know what you mean about how she could easily be a friend of mine, etc. Anyway, I figured I'd let you know that you aren't the only one fascinated by this whole thing.
I linked to that article from CNN.com when part one was published. I felt the same way. The insight into the mujahideen was incredible. The whole series was very emotional, especially the events immediately following her release.
Chad
Wow, I'm so excited to have people that I don't know posting to my blog :) Good to know I'm not alone! Thanks tp6 and Chad.
If she were me, I don't think I would want that kind of fame/attention. And from what I've read, she doesn't really either. She seems to have handled it well, even so.
Here's something odd/cool though. I had a dream recently that I was talking to this younger guy, someone maybe about year into his career in the same line of work as myself. For some reason this guy opened up to me and was talking to me about how stressed out he was and how much trouble he was having handling everything. I found this odd because I had thought this guy really had things together given all his responsibilities coupled with his youthfulness. I was attempting to give him some advice, but I wasn't really sure what to say. As we talked, I was eating from this bowl of grapes with a fork. At some point, I smashed the grapes up a little bit and started drinking the juice. That was when this great analogy came to me. I said "you know how when you're sick, and it's much easier to drink liquids and eat softer foods? Did you see what I just did with these grapes? By making them into liquid, they are easier to eat. It's the same way with life. If you can make it into liquid, it will be easier. Whatever it means for life to be liquid." We started to discuss what it might mean for life to be like liquid, when I was awakened. So I never really figured out what that would mean.
It was the next day that I was watching the interview with Jill Carroll where she was talking about after awhile in captivity, you just have to let things wash over you. Go wherever they want you to go. Make this video, ok. Whatever. It all just washes over you. And as she made the gesture with her arm like a wave flowing over her head, I thought "Hmm, maybe that's what it meant in my dream to 'make life into liquid'"
That was just strange. But regardless, what an inspiration this story has been to me. I was at work the other day and getting really annoyed at this guy in a cubicle next to me who kept talking out loud to himself, imitating cell phone noises when cell phones would ring, and singing out loud. It was driving me crazy, but then I thought of all that I take for granted. At least I'm at work. I'm FREE to be at work. I have something to do. And I get to go home in a little while. I let it wash over me, and I got back to work.
You know, that makes so much sense. Last week I was actually at the Christian Science Monitor (well the plaza actually, not the Monitor itself) and I was on a bench with a friend of mine. Of course we were talking about Jill Carroll, given where we were and all. We were saying how not just the fear and horror of being kidnapped, but the absolute BOREDOME must've been awful! We were talking about how she said she would only look at one section of a room per day, and how she stared at flies to make the time pass. Incredible that she's still sane! She is someone to be admired though, even though she doesn't realize it. While I was sitting on the bench in front of the Monitor's office I was just thinking how awesome it would be to sit there with Jill and just have a conversation. She just fascinates me. I don't know why. She's just such and inspiration and she's a living reminder that we can't take life for granted.
Yeah, I'm willing to bet you a million dollars that Jill hates the whole "fame" thing right now. Apparently a few weeks ago she was in a coffee shop and was recognized. Now she refuses to go back there.
Anyway, if you ever come to Boston I highly suggest strolling through the Christian Science Plaza. It's absolutely gorgeous! I go there a lot to destress. It's a great place, and a lot of people go there to walk or just sit and have time to yourself.
Yes, the boredom would be awful in a way words cannot describe. When I'm bored at work, at least I have the Internet. And even that small amount of boredom for weeks on end is exhausting. I also don't know how she's still sane.
I still have trouble getting my mind around the way her captors think. It definitely was good insight, to see a perspective into their side of the story, their lives, their thoughts and statements, their families and homes. Strangely, some of the things they said make sense in a way. Like the comment "why do your sons kill our sons?" Yeah, that sucks for parents both sides. For parents, siblings, friends, etc.
But the extremeism, the kidnapping and killing of innocent people, followed by the fact that they are confused that America calls them terrorists, well that confuses me.
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[courtesy of dictionary.com] TERRORISM
- the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
- the calculated use of violence (or threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimindation or coercion or instilling fear
TERRORIST - a person who terrorizes or frightens others.
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Using a hostage to appeal to another country's government via videos broadcast on TV, to try to get that government to release hostages. That is the use of threats in attempt to coerce.
Killing a journalist's male translator. That is the calculated use of violence against civilians.
Intimidation, coersion, fear. Do they really think that any civilian person (or any human for that matter) that they take hostage isn't going to feel all of those things and more? Do they really think that their actions would not absolutely frighten their hostage, even if they try to treat them as sort-of a guest in some odd way?
Yeah, this is way more political than anything I've ever posted or probably ever will post. But seriously, how do they think they're not terrorists? They fit the definition to a tee IMO. I truly don't get it. Maybe I never will.
The thing is that these people are completely brainwashed from the day they're born. They have absolutely no regard for human life. It's like Jill said, they were proud of their lifestyle. They live to "kill the infidel" and all will be right with Allah. These people are absolutely twisted and they use th einnocent to barter. Kidnapping journalists or any other innocent person is not wrong in their eyes. Killing an innocent man is a victorious every day occurance.
They don't see themselves as terrorists because they truly believe that we are the evil ones and that they're doing right by Allah. As twisted as it sounds, it's an unfortuante truth.
Jill has amazing strength and courage, but I am curious to know what would've happened if they kept her there for a lot longer. Would she ultimately have been brainwashed? When you're so immersed in an environment, you do tend to adopt some of their ways of thinking, no matter how strong you are. It's pretty much inevitable. I'm not saying that she's strap on a vest and become a suicide bomber, but because of being so brainwashed she could sympathize with their cause. Who knows? It really would happen to anyone I think.
I, for one, am very thankful that that didn't happen to her. I get so angered by people who are quick to judge her and call her a sympathizer, etc. It's obnoxious. If I ever met Jill I would just shake her hand and buy her a drink. She is one to be admired for her strength, humility, and understanding.
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