[December 10, 2016] An Assyrian Christian Bishop is responsible for freeing 226 captives seized by the Islamic State (or ISIS) terrorist group. Members of his flock were captured last year when 35 Christian towns were attacked simultaneously in the Khabur River valley in northern Syria.1 These Christians have been persecuted for generations and with the recent focus on Islamic terrorism much of this has recently come to light worldwide.
Some may find it surprising that the Obama Administration has denied entry of these Christians into the United States as refugees. Yet, the same leaders from President Obama have allowed unvetted Muslims to immigrate unimpeded into the United States. Why such a practice exists in a Christian nation is unknown but certainly unforgiveable given the death sentence Christians receive at the hands of Islamic State terrorists.
The Bishop was fortunate that only a few of these Christians were executed. He was able to bribe the terrorists into releasing them. There are, of course, moral concerns about paying ransoms to those who would hold the lives of anyone for money; it can only led to encouraging more hostages taking in the future as well as driving up the ransom price and other risks to paying it.
“You look at it from the moral side and I get it. If we give them money we’re just feeding into it, and they’re going to kill using that money but to us, we’re such a small minority that we have to help each other.” – Aneki Nissan who helped raise the funds in Canada
The Christian families from the Khabur valley trace their heritage to the earliest days of Christianity and speak a dialect of Aramaic which some say is the native language of Jesus. Such is the way of the world when Western nations will not support a minority of Christians (or any peaceful group seeking help). There are also moral issues with this and those in the Obama Administration will have to live with their decision to refuse assistance.
The Bishop shows us how to be, not just a teacher and moral leader, but also a brave one at that. If only more of us were brave enough to act to save others, then we can expect others to follow in the same way. This is how leadership is best taught; by example.
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