Busy Week
It’s been a busy week for me. Any North Korean related news dried up as the media focused their attention to the plight of 18 South Korean missionaries kidnapped in Afghanistan. Comments in the blogosphere range from “time for the ROK Forces to hunt them down” to “what the hell were they thinking?” I do not know what is the best course of action but I can address the second, why they were there.
I think it is safe to say that this is similar to Korean missionaries in China or even North Koreans returning to NK to become missionaries. Before one can judge why they went to one of the most hostile places in the world, in a free society (which the US is trying to build in Afghanistan), there are many ways to address an opposing ideology. Kidnapping and executing hostages is not one of them.
In this war of ideologies, it is important to remember that we must raise others to our standards, not lower ourselves to theirs. Should I blame a group of missionaries, who probably should have known better then to enter a war zone, or the intolerant and murderous Taliban?
The same case can be made about South Koreans in China helping refugees escape. If a group of North Koreans trying to escape get caught, am I going to blame the South Koreans for putting them in danger?
I think you know my answer to both questions.
I think the comparison to South Korean missionaries in China misses the mark, because the missionaries have a clear, direct goal an established chance of success (albeit at great risk). They know that if they’re captured, their own government won’t lift a finger to help them. There will be no outcry for ransom or outrage against China. They know they’re on their own, but they accept it because there’s no other way to help those people. And we haven’t even discussed the heroism of North Koreans who go back to their homeland to propogate Christianity. That’s courage. And they, too, have a real chance to success, although the cost will be great.
The difference between the underground railroad workers and the Afghanistan hostages is the difference between courage and suicide. What specific goal could those missionaries in Afghanistan point to that could be realistically accomplished? Afghanistan at least has a quasi-democratic government that offers hope for a more liberal future. If we support that government, rather than undermine it with propaganda gifts and calls for ransom, there may even be freedom of conscience there one day.
Clearly, some people have a lot of malice toward these hostages and wish them ill, and that’s unfortunate. It should go without saying that we hope the rest of them are rescued. I sure hope no soldiers have to die trying.
Comment by Joshua — July 28, 2007 @ 10:45 pm