by Miss Poppy Dixon
Romans 12:20
What kind of person would title his Easter essay, "Victory over Napalm"? This essay by Chuck Colson (and Nancy Pearcey) appears in the March 3, 1997 issue of Christianity Today.(1)
Looking back to the Viet Nam war years, Charles Colson wonders if any of his decisions contributed to the pain of the young girl, Phan Thi Kim Phuc, photographed running naked down a road covered in burning napalm. Just wondered, that's all. But he tells us of his personal relief when she offers forgiveness to all of those involved in the war. Forgiveness without remorse or amends, that's the Colson leitmotif.
"Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bomb I would tell him we cannot change history, but we should try to do good things for the present and for the future to promote peace."This is not exactly a statement of forgiveness but a suggestion to move forward and not dwell on the past. Mr. Colson makes much of the fact that the "Communist Vietnamese government discovered that she was the 'girl in the picture' and paraded her endlessly in anti-American propaganda." Now, fortunately, she is safe in the USA endlessly paraded by the Christian Right.Phan Thi Kim Phuc
Speaking of himself,
And it 'means something' to that old Nixon hatchet man as well. The frail, South Vietnamese woman, once so powerless, reached out across the years, as it were, to the man who once held so much worldly power and spoke words of forgiveness and reconciliation."Yet another vivid example of the rich and twisted fantasy life of Charles Colson.Charles Colson
In the speech that Colson quotes, Phan Thi Kim Phuc also said the following:
Dear friends, I just dream one day people all over the world can live in real peace, no fighting, and no hostility. I should work--we should work together to be at peace and happiness for all people in all nations.Being forgiven personally interests Colson. Putting his name next to heroic people such as Phan Thi Kim Phuc and Yehiel Dinur interests Colson. But the real message of Phan Thi Kim Phuc, the message that has real meaning at Easter, is edited out. It's too high a price to pay for forgiveness.Phan Thi Kim Phuc (2)
NEW COLSON LINK!!
Life Story Foundation
You can now get the whole story on tape or download it at this web site. The Life Story Foundation places Charles Colson in the catagory of "National Leader." On Colson's page you are advised, "If you would like to be notified about new speakers as they are released, [contact us]." Released from prison? Is that a prerequisite for being listed as a 'national leader'?
NIXON PLOTTED
BOGUS BREAK-IN
The San Francisco Chronicle, February 14, 1997
"Excerpt from a tape recorded in the White House Oval Office of a conversation between then-President Richard Nixon and his chief political aide, Charles Colson, at 9:50 a.m., on July 1, 1972. The men are talking about a break-in at the Republican National Committee headquarters that would be made to look as if it were done by Nixon's political foes.
NIXON:It may be that what they want is to get in and sort of get at files in retaliation against us, you know, the young people. I was thinking if they make that error - I would consider it an error - if they get in one night . . . and tear it to shambles, what would you think if that happened?
COLSON:
I think it would be very helpful if they came in one morning and found files strewn all over the place.
NIXON:
And some missing.
COLSON:
I mean, this goes on in every campaign.
NIXON:
I mean if something could by very open. I mean demolished. Three or four thousand dollars worth of damage.
COLSON:
That would have a very good effect.
NIXON:
Right there (during) their convention.
COLSON:
During theirs? During ours?
NIXON:
Theirs . . .
COLSON:
And then Dole is in a perfect position to say . . .
NIXON:
'Sue! Sue the Committee! I'd sue 'em!' But what I mean is, it should be . . . where it's really torn up. They'll charge it's been done by Republicans, won't they? So what the hell! We'll say . . .
COLSON:
You didn't know that when your place was . . . Financial files would be . . . financial files would be the kind of thing they'd like to get their hands on.
NIXON:
Yeah.
The SF Chronicle reports that a representative of Colson's Christian Prison Fellowship said that Colson does not "respond to inquiries concerning that period." Not unless he needs to write an Easter essay.
NOTES:
(1)"Victory over Napalm", by Chuck Colson's and Nancy Pearcey 1997, Christianity Today, Inc/Christianity Today Magazine. March 3, 1997(2)Online Backgrounders, transcripts of Veteran's Day Speeches.
OF INTEREST:
The Columbia Chronicle, A Message of Forgiveness, by Cristin Monti.
