Freed... at last!

Praise the Lord! The Korean hostages were freed, at last! Praise the Lord for their safe return. Above all, praise the Lord for their faith that did not waver! Of course, in the midst of all the joy, our friends in the politics never fail to make their presence felt. This time, by criticising the payment of the ransom of $70 million for the release of the hostages.

Let's make things clear a little. The Korean did not admit the payment of the ransom. So, whether there was a ransom or not, that remains a good question. Yes, it was implied by the spokesman's reply, but implications are always vague. And if they did resolve to paying the ransom, my dear know-it-all friends, please suggest a better way out. Well, of course, if there had been another way out, the 19 innocent men and women would not have to be held up for almost a month.

Having direct negotiations with the Talibans will only encourage them to carry out more kidnappings in the future. But is there another way? since releasing the captured Talibans is a definite NO, NO. Well, there is the 'greater good' principle. We must sacrifice a few lives for the greater good. It's just 19 lives to deter further kidnappings by the Talibans. It is a good cause to die for. I am sure this is being echoed in the hearts of our dear know-it-all friends. It was just not said, as it will not be politically favourable for them.

Yes, they may just be 19 lives. 19 civilians whose existence you and I did not even realise until the reports of the kidnaps were published. We have approximately 7 billion people on the face of the earth, and 19 is none the less. Well, if you have not realised, these 19 men and women each have a father and a mother who prayed for their safe return every single second since the news of their capture reached their ears. These 19 men and women each have children who anxiously waited for them to read to them bedtime stories. These 19 men and women each have friends who truly cared about their safety. These 19 men and women are not just numbers to these people. They are individuals who are loved. How can they just be left to die in the hands of the Talibans?

I wonder will it be the same if the ones held hostage were not the Koreans but George Bush and Tony Blair. I wonder if those same voices will be saying the same thing, about 'dying for a noble cause' and 'the principle of the greater good'. After all, it will be an even budget sacrifice: two lives to end the activities of the Talibans. World peace, man! Or will the reaction be otherwise? Will those voices start calling for a release of the Taliban prisoners? Perhaps they may be willing to pay an even greater ransom for the release of these two. What about all the talks on 'encouraging further kidnappings'?

Of course, their action will then be justified by saying that these men are 'very important people'. The world needs them. If we don't bail them out, it will cause a worldwide chaos. Will it? Or will it bring world peace instead?

It sure makes me wonder why two different groups of people sharing the same fate triggers off different reactions from the same people. What puts one above the other, when both are just humans with parents who brought them into this world? As much as people care for the big shots who are always in the limelight, those Koreans, though mere civilians they may be, also have loved ones who care deeply for them.

God created us just the same, may we be a president of a nation or a regular man on the street, and I do not think that He has empowered any of us to place any one person above another in status. In His eyes, we are all His children, and He loves us just the same. I am sure He too would like us to do the same.

So, you smart alecs out there, stop criticising the South Korean government for negotiating with the Talibans for the release of the hostages. They did that despite the anticipated criticism because they love the 19 men and women. The 19 is not just a number to them. They are God's creation, His precious creation.