Views of a horrible scene

I cannot phantom the notion of any person desiring to view the

beheading of a human being.

The senseless and tragic killing of Nicholas Berg was deplorable

but to know that others desire viewing it is also appalling. The

school administration was correct to reprimand the teacher for

permitting the students to view the footage.

Instead of permitting the students to view the horrible act, the

teacher should have instructed a lesson on humanity and moral

behaviorism.

To a degree, war footage must be brought before the public. People

must become witnesses to what is happening, especially when it is

their country that is at war.

IMAM MOUSTAFA AL-QAZWINI

Islamic Educational Center

of Orange County

Costa Mesa

When this horrific event happened I was in Europe.

Two French friends who had seen the video on the Internet asked if

I wanted to see it there. “No!” was my immediate, heartfelt response.

There are too many abominable, dehumanizing images already available

around us in contemporary society. I applaud television networks who

showed the video up to the point of the beheading, then cut away and

used words to describe what the rest of the video showed.

I think what was described is better left to one’s imagination,

and my imagination is the only way I have seen that part of this

video.

Understanding that “war is hell,” and that the best and worst in

humankind is elicited through conflict, is essential. Graphic images

do convey this message.

Experts credit the earlier-than-otherwise end to the Vietnam war,

in part, to images in our newspapersevery day and on our televisions

night after night. Perhaps such images best convey the wisdom of

poetry, like Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind”:

“How many times must ... “ such events happen before we change our

wars?

I would no more show this video to another person just because I

was asked than I would take my 10-year-old son to see “The Passion of

the Christ” just because he wanted to go with me. I would want them

to explain to me in depth and with clarity why they wanted to see

such images. Enough materials for nightmares confront us. I would

appreciateknowing what motivated the English teacher in Villa Park to

show this video to his/her students.

Nicholas Berg was an American Jew. Does seeing this video help us

more thoroughly abhor anti-Semitism? Does it make us aware of global

anti-American predispositions? I doubt it does either well, as I

doubt that it deepens our understanding of “man’s inhumanity to man”

more than it provides substance for bad dreams. Christians will do

well to hold Mr. Berg

and his beloveds in prayerful thoughts.

I clearly realized anti-American feelings as a tourist in Europe,

and could tell several stories. One has my son and I in the Piazza

Navona in Rome buying a rainbow flag with the word “PACE” on it. The

vender looked at us and asked, “American?” “Yes,” I responded

proudly. “But ‘PACE’ means ‘PEACE’,” he continued with puzzlement in

his voice. “Yes, I know,” I replied as I handed him our five euros.

“Peace.”

THE VERY REV. CANON

PETER D. HAYNES

St. Michael & All Angels

Episcopal Parish Church

Corona del Mar

The Bible tells of the Tribe of Amalek, the savage foes of the

children of Israel. As the newly freed slaves traveled from Egypt

through the Sinai toward the Promised Land, the Amalekites attacked

the defenseless men, women and children at the rear of the march.

In Jewish tradition, the Amalekites are the embodiment of evil,

and could well be identified as the first terrorists. They did not

disappear into the sands of the wilderness whence they came. The

Bible warns that the Lord will have war with those who rise up in the

spirit of Amalek throughout the generations.

The war with the Amalekites of our day will be waged for many

years. The battle against terror will never be “won,” any more than

we will “win” the war on poverty or the war against drugs. Our

children will man the ramparts of this struggle throughout their

lives.

It is imperative that our young know full-well the enemy they will

face for all their tomorrows.

I am tempted here to call these terrorists “beasts” but I do not

want to insult the animal kingdom.

These butchers and monsters will never be satisfied until the

world is re-cast in their image. They will never tire in their

scheming against civilization and their plotting against freedom.

We must look with eyes wide open at their viciousness. How

revolting that they scream “God is Great!” as they murder those

created in His image. Our young must confront a menace that must be

seen to be believed. This insanity cannot be sanitized.

If I were in the position to show the video of the Berg murder to

a young person, and secured the parents’ permission, I would not

hesitate. Our children are exposed to so much make-believe violence,

they should look upon the brutal reality of the foe, who will be ever

before them. Surely, after the revulsion and disgust have passed, the

abiding message imprinted on their consciousness will be a heightened

resolve to stand fast, a deepened love for the land of the free, and

a broadened devotion to the home of the brave.

RABBI MARK MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

It was clearly a lapse of judgment on the teacher’s behalf, maybe

done partly in ignorance.

It seems to me that we are so desensitized to violence (ala

Hollywood) that we assume the real thing is just as easy to consume.

I had not seen the Nick Berg video until yesterday. Even then, my

broadband was choppy, so I didn’t see half of what happened, but the

sounds were enough to haunt me. I have not been able to eat or sleep

or close my eyes without being reminded of it. I have never been

affected by video in this way.

I have constantly been on the verge of vomiting at the mere

thought of it. A teacher or adult who would encourage teens to see

this video clearly needs to do some soul-searching. We need to come

to a renewed understanding of the value of life. Curiosity about

death makes it a form of entertainment. Nick, I am sorry for

violating your life. Forgive me.

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

RIC OLSEN

Harbor Trinity Church

Costa Mesa

What is the student really asking?

I would recommend resources to help work with suffering, hatred

and injustice (for example, “Healing Into Life and Death” by Stephen

Levine). I do not think there is any purpose in showing a film of

decapitation unless the students are studying law enforcement or

forensics at a post-graduate level. I do not believe the film should

be censored, but I do not see the value of either students or the

public watching detailed footage.

“Toxins of violence” is how Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh

refers to the messages we mindlessly consume from television,

Internet, music and film. Disturbing images can remain in memory much

longer than we would like. Pictures come to mind involuntarily, they

persist, and they are accompanied by strong physical sensations. We

train the mind in meditation and gradually learn that we do not have

to be dominated by painful thoughts or images, yet our “mental

landscape” is affected by our experiences. Sometimes we can choose

what images we ingest, but often we cannot.

I want to take as much responsibility as possible for selecting

media which are nourishing and uplifting, or which sensitize me to

suffering and its relief.

THE REV. DEBOARAH BARRETT

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa