Aj Schwanz

I was reading this appeal from Langley Hill Monthly Meeting while my son and cat were romping around downstairs. Giggles and clapping noises floated up to my ears as I thought about Tom Fox, kidnapped member of the CPT in Iraq. My thoughts weren’t about whether or not he should’ve been there, or about how my consumer American lifestyle helped inflame this situation.

I thought about Tom as a child: a toddler, bounding around his home, innocent and without a care in the world. I thought about his mother and her dreams for her child: succeeding in school, being a wonderful husband and father, maybe with the occassional dream of winning the Booker Award of the Nobel Peace Prize. I’m certain she’d be proud of Tom for following his God-placed call in being a resource for peace and reconciliation, but I doubt her dream for him consisted of being kidnapped and held hostage.

Having a child, specifically a son, makes me understand why folks are so interested in the figure of Mary. Isn’t it interesting how we can seem to start out in the same place, yet life circumstances and decisions of will take us to such different places?

Sometimes I look at those folks and see them in the present moment – they seem so strong and set apart. But I haven’t seen all the steps and choices and moments that have taken them from a pretty typical point of toddlerhood to a very distinctive adult journey. I don’t know Tom Fox personally, but I do know that, just like my son, he’s a precious child of God.

We ask that you give the following urgent message your deepest consideration, and direct it on to others who share our concerns regarding the violent and unjust interruptions in the lives of people in Iraq on a daily basis. We have a special concern for the 4 Christian Peacemaker Team members abducted November 26, 2005.

WHO WE ARE: We are Langley Hill Monthly Meeting, of the Religious Society of Friends, the Meeting of Tom Fox, the member of the Christian Peacemaker Team from America that is being held hostage.

WHAT WE ARE DOING: We are holding a 24 hour vigil beginning at 4:00 pm EST on Wednesday, Dec 7 for Tom and all the members of the CPT as well as those who have taken him hostage and the many individuals and families that have been negatively impacted by this war. We will also have a public candlelight vigil at the Clarendon Metro Park, Arlington, Virginia, on Wednesday, Dec 7 from 7:00-9:00 pm, EST. We will read the text of Tomís work as found on his weblog. Bring candles and dress warmly.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING: For each and everyone to join us in either:

1. Holding a simultaneous candlelight vigil in your community
2. If you cannot attend a vigil, then hold your own personal vigil, put a candle in your window or in your front lawn
3. Read Tomís postings found on his website waitinginthelight
4. Read the statement from Langley Hill Monthly Meeting (included below)
5. Hold Tom and his fellow peacemaker team members in the Light, seeking their safe and immediate release, and hold all those in the Light who suffer similar situations in Iraq and those who have taken such offenses against these individuals and their families.

We know that many people throughout the world have made efforts to secure the release of these hostages and we are grateful for their support.

AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE HOLDING TOM FOX AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAM,

Tom Fox, now being held captive in Iraq, is a beloved and longstanding member of our Quaker worship community. One of our strongly held beliefs is that if we listen, God can guide our lives. Before Tom went to Iraq, we considered with him his sense that he was being inspired by God to do what he could to relieve the suffering of individual Iraqis and to serve peace and justice. We were aware of the danger he faced. He went with our support and continues to have our support and love. We know Tom very well and can affirm that he is neither a spy nor an evangelist.

The tenets of our Quaker faith ask us to work for peace in the world and to respect that of God in everyone. That is what led Tom to go to Iraq. We believe strongly in justice, mercy, and peace. We opposed this war as we oppose all wars. We believe in a God that is compassionate and merciful, as do the people of Iraq.

We ask you as an act of justice, mercy, and devotion to release Tom and the other Christian Peacemaker Team members so that they can continue their work on behalf of those who suffer.

Releasing the captives, so that they can continue to serve the Iraqi people, would be an act of dignity and courage.

Signed,

Langley Hill Monthly Meeting
Religious Society of Friends
Doug Smith, Clerk