I believe it is important to distinguish between Tom’s story and our stories about him. Being only human, we naturally try to fill in the gap from February 12 to March 10, but this is a narrative that only Tom could tell us. In whatever way someone chooses to give understanding to the gaps in the narrative, that person is creating their story about Tom. The resulting transformation tells us at least as much about the story teller as it does about Tom.
The real question becomes, “What does our story say about our desire and willingness to work for a world of peace, justice, and compassion?” I pose this question to each of you who are reading this. Your answer is important. Otherwise the story about Tom will be mainly told by the media and right-wing commentators. The media almost reflexively assume, look for, and highlight conflict and hostility. News stories about the 3 CPT members who returned have related untruths and, despite direct refutations, these stories continue to circulate. Right-wing commentators have used Tom’s story to lecture on the patriotism of violence and scoff at the naiveté of love or even to suggest that peacemaking is anti-American.
When I think about Tom’s last months on this earth, I gratefully remember the way Muslims around the world have entered Tom’s story and made it their own. I believe that the immediate outpouring of support from Muslim clerics and organizations in late November and early December—support from America, Canada, Britain, New Zealand, Iraq and elsewhere—joined with pleas from family members and friends, kept Tom, Jim, Norman, and Harmeet alive in those first critical weeks. During those weeks a video of them was shown, demands were made, and 2 deadlines were given for their executions.
The recent pattern in Iraq has been that 70-80% of the abductions are not for politics but for money. If the kidnappers are initially convinced that the people whom they hold have been in Iraq for peaceful purposes, a favorable resolution is the likely outcome. And the outcome was favorable for 3 of the 4, and also for Jill Carroll. Of the CPTers, I believe that Tom was always the most at risk, because he was the American.
I am brought to tears every time I remember the story of a little known Iraqi group whose name translates as “Independent Activates, a Society to Defend Human Rights.” On February 24, 2006, CPTers in Iraq reported having met them and learned that they had about 170 members in several cities. The Activates began organizing for the release of Tom, Jim, Norman, and Harmeet, by name, as soon as they heard of their detention. They held press conferences, organized 3 vigils, and distributed leaflets. One member of the Iraqi Activates had publicly offered to exchange himself for the CPT members.
A regular Friday Night Interfaith Vigil for Peace began at Langley Hill on December 9. It drew many Christians and also Sikhs and Muslims. I am grateful for Christians everywhere who prayed for Tom, Jim, Norman, and Harmeet regularly—in their private devotions and during church services. Of course private memorials for Tom have been held by Mennonite, Brethren, and Quaker congregations all over the world. These three faith communities were the original sponsors of CPT. I also know that the Sunday after Tom’s body was found, many ministers turned Tom’s story into a gospel story by preaching about his life and death in obedience to the Spirit and the cross of Christ. All this for a guy I knew who didn’t always pick up after himself! Ordinary people who live in the Spirit can touch our hearts and set extraordinary things in motion.
Grieving is a long-term process. Deep grieving often brings us to a greater appreciation of life and can point us to a more purposeful life. I believe that a well-known Quaker quote from the mid-17th century applies to this early 21st century situation, “What canst Thou say?” In view of Tom’s life and death, “Where are we in the story to bring God’s peaceable kingdom—God’s heavenly reign to all the earth?”
As members of Tom’s spiritual home, the members and attenders of Langley Hill Friends Meeting seek ways to continue his work, especially his work to comfort Iraqi detainees. Quakers are meeting with our U.S. Senators and Representatives and asking them to begin a routine publishing of the names and locations of all detainees in US/Coalition custody and to inform those in detention of the charges against them. We consider this simple due process, but it would require a change in current US policy. More information can be found on
http://www.quaker.org/langleyhill/howtohelp.html, the Langley Hill website.
Once again, I thank you for your faith and prayers on behalf of my friend, Tom. I believe that nothing done with love and integrity is ever lost or defeated. The good seeds that we continue to sow will bear fruit in God’s time. This is both an echo and a promise of the resurrection. Of course, would I rather have Tom home with us and telling his own story? Absolutely! Another part of the grieving process is recognizing that I didn’t get my first choice.
In the Light of Christ,
Georgia E. Fuller,
A member of Tom Fox’s Quaker meeting
