I was glad that Jill made a statement yesterday saying that the video that circulated on the internet after her release was made under threat. I was appalled, shocked and disgusted by those rushing in to attack Jill after her release. How insensitive, short-sighted and just plain dumb! When you have a gun pointed to your head, when you are under threat in some fashion, you say anything to secure your release. For those attacking my dear, wonderful friend … please leave her alone and give her some time to recuperate from the trauma she has undergone. Celebrate her freedom instead of attacking her fragility. How insensitive!
Here are some excerpts from her statement published in full on CSM:
I’m so happy to be free and am looking forward to spending a lot of time with my family. I want to express my deep appreciation to all the people who worked so long and hard for my release. I am humbled by the sympathy and support expressed by so many people during my kidnapping.
… During my last night of captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video. They told me I would be released if I cooperated. I was living in a threatening environment, under their control, and I wanted to go home alive. So I agreed.
Things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal views. They are not. The people who kidnapped me and murdered Alan Enwiya are criminals, at best. They robbed Alan of his life and devastated his family. They put me, my family and my friends — all those around the world — who have prayed so fervently for my release — through a horrific experience. I was, and remain, deeply angry with the people who did this.
I also gave a TV interview to the Iraqi Islamic Party shortly after my release. The party had promised me the interview would never be broadcast or aired on television, and they broke their word. At any rate, fearing retribution from my captors, I did not speak freely. Out of fear I said I wasn’t threatened. In fact, I was threatened many times.
Also, at least two false statements about me have been widely aired: One, that I refused to travel and cooperate with the U.S. military and two, that I refused to discuss my captivity with U.S. officials. Again, neither statement is true.
I want to be judged as a journalist, not as a hostage. I remain as committed as ever to fairness and accuracy — to discovering the truth — and so I will not engage in polemics. But let me be clear: I abhor all who kidnap and murder civilians, and my captors are clearly guilty of both crimes.
I neither prayed for Jill nor invoked any god for her release, but I am one happy dude that she is free and back on free soil. I didn’t pray because I don’t believe in any ancient god from the past, and these ancient gods from the past are exactly what is wrong with the entire Middle East and terrorism situation. People: stop praying, stop preying, and start using your brains. Most of you are still living in the Dark Ages and that is why Jill as kidnapped. The reason she was released is not because some god answered your prayers BUT because some cool heads behind the scenes worked this all out. Bravo for cool heads, bravo for humanitarian ideals. Not the question is this: will Jill go back to Iraq. I pray to God, and this time I do pray, that she will NOT go back there. But I fear, fear, that she will. Please someone stop her. Keep her safe in the USA. Give her a job teaching journalism at some nice college and keep her safe and sound. There will be a book she will write, huge advance, like one million dollars, and a movie, next, and she will be in demand on the lecture circuit for years. She deserves a good life, after all she has been through now. God bless you, Jill Carroll, even if there is no you know what up there watching over all of us!
I am glad also Jill is back home and is okay and I wish her well for the “rest of her life.” Some rightwing bloggers told me in private emails that that every white Western woman who is kidnapped by Muslims is gang raped and brainwashed by her kidnappers” relating this to the Carroll saga. I just find it sad that so many rightwingers would even believe such crap and spread it around the Internet. It just goes to show how deep their heads are in the gutter, and the person who emailed this has a PHD and is famous! O woe is us! O woe is the USA!
Skye, I don’t understand either why some thought that Jill actually meant what she said in that final hostage video. It was a video taped by her kidnappers and that was made clear, which is why I was so irritated that people actually thought
she could’ve meant all those things she said.
As far as the interview that she did right after, I had a feeling that she wasn’t being completely truthful. I’m glad that I was right. I was watching it on television with a friend of mine and she turned to me and said, “Did she just say that they treated her WELL?? Is she for real?” I watched Jill speak for a few seconds before responding and then I turned to my friend and said, “No, she still feels threatened. That’s not her talking, that’s her fear. She’s not in U.S. custody yet and something’s not right.”
I don’t know. It was just a feeling I had.
I can understand why some would question–and I mean queston, not slam on the poor girl–the interview done after her release, but the initial video? I was shocked to hear that there are people who actually consider that to be real and conducted without threat.
At any rate, Jill, thanks for not letting me eat my words. We here in the Boston area are proud and honored that your first step back onto U.S. soil was in this city. Welcome home girlfriend! 🙂
You are absolutely right, Skye, which is why I chilled first before saying anything or reacting. The “shock value” of the tapes and interview was just so strong and some media was manipulating the message. Remember, people are not always rational creatures.
I can understand (though not condone) the initial reactions, but I don’t understand why any rational human being would actual buy into this beyond that. THAT, in my opinion, is totally inexcusable.
I guess what I don’t understand is why some people didn’t initially get why Jill said what she did. It was pretty obvious that her life was still in danger when she made that video.
I was amazed at some of the nasty things that people were saying about her on message boards and blogs when she was released after seeing that video without first waiting to see how the story played out.
Natasha, I am so sorry and would apologize to Jill personally if I could. I feel like a total heel, but I hope I can explain how good people could react this way.
For many of us who have no relatives or friends involved in the Iraqi conflict, Jill’s reporting helped us gain perspective. During her ordeal, she became the human face of this terrible conflict. Like others I know, I prayed for her constantly and took a personal interest in the plight of Jill and other hostages which I had not before. Though we do not know Jill personally, she became a very real part of our lives.
When the interview and then the videos came out, I felt betrayed somehow. I should not have felt this way, but I did. I have a sister, and though we are adults, she still kids and teases me in jest. On rare occassions, she kids me too strongly and even though I know she doesn’t mean it, it still hurts a little. Even though Jill clearly didn’t mean what she said and was under extreme duress, the words were so strong that they hurt.
I got over it very quickly, and even before Jill made her statement I realized I was out of line and felt very bad. None of it was meant, she just had to survive! I’m sure many people across the country had the same initial reaction as I did and feel just as bad, particulary after her hearfelt thanks to the people of America for their prayers and support.
Sometimes people do not react in a rational manner to emotional situations, particulary when the message is being manipulated a bit by certain media. Nevertheless, that does not excuse such a reaction, and I apologize.
I hope those who read this can understand.
I stumbled across this site while looking for some info on Jill. What I found here is a bit of a treasure trove of info with a special perspective.
Natasha, consider your self bookmarked 😉
I am glad she made that statement too. Made me feel reliefed. To be fair though, Natasha, she had 2 videos out, and one after her release and they both dislayed the same sentiment. People saw what’s on TV, and it was her, saying those things. So..yeah. I am not excusing the venemous shit that got spouted or the disgusting comments that were made by some, but I defintley understand people who went a huge “WTF?” when they saw those videos on TV. Hell, I was one of them. I definetly had a WTF moment after seeing those videos. This makes me even gladder that she detracted those statments, u know?
Glad she is ok anyway!
Natasha, are you still in Seattle, looks sunny today, or maybe just now. How do you like it?
i think whoever who views this whole saga from a local perspective is pretty narrow-minded. I’m a Malaysian-Chinese who grew up in a Christian family, Muslim society. People should start thinking that we are citizens of the world. Without courageous journalists like Jill and Kevin Sites and many others who lost their lives, you and I won’t even have the slightest idea of what’s happening in the world.
Let’s stop thinking about the governments and start to think what we can do to make a difference to those who are in need of our help.
America is one of the freest countries in the world. Do something with this freedom. Many countries don’t even have the freedom of speech.
I’m actually living few blocks away from the CSMonitor HQ in Boston and would like to meet Jill even if for a brief moment. Whatever it is, I salute her courage and respect her decisions.
All the best, and hope that our paths will meet someday.