Cal Thomas reflects on the death of "peace activist" Tom Fox and says "the likelihood that the presence of Fox and his colleagues [who had gone to Iraq] would change the attitude or behavior of their captors was zero to none." Thomas says,
That the "peace activists" believed their brand of Christianity would trump the fanatical Muslims who regard them as infidels and worthy of death meant that Fox and the others would either be used for propaganda purposes by the enemies of freedom, or made to sacrifice their lives like animals on an ancient altar in the furtherance of the fanatics' dream of a theocratic state. In this instance they were used for both . . .
Strange thing about these peace movements: they rearely mobilize to oppose the killing, torture and imprisonments practiced by dictators. It is only when their own country attempts to end the oppression that the activists become active against America, not the initatiors of evil... Peace happens when evil is vanquished.
In his articleThomas tells the story of Charles M. Brown, who came to see himself and others as part of Baath Party propaganda. Thomas refers to Brown's essay which appeared in the summer 2003 issue of Middle East Quarterly titled "Confessions of an Anti-Sanctions Activist."
Thomas concludes, rightly in my judgment,
Peace "activism" may make its practitioners feel good, or validate their belief that they are doing the will of God, but evil cannot be accomodated. Evil must be defeated if peace on earth is to exist. That Fox and his colleagues could not, or would not see this, is most tragic of all.