The Village Voice: Runnin' Scared

Your Turn: Befriending a Terrorist's Mom

posted: 12:37 PM, September 6, 2006 by Power Plays

In this week's Voice, Bernice Yeung writes about a woman who lost her son in the World Trade Center on 9-11 and ended up befriending the mother of Al Qaeda terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui. That's Phyllis Rodriguez, at right below, with Moussaoui's mom, Aicha el-Wafi.

"I felt for her as a mother," Rodriguez says. "I thought, 'I'd like to meet her.' I knew I would like to reach out to her because I felt sorry for her. And I also thought, 'Good for her, fighting for her son.' "

If you were in Rodriguez's shoes, could you imagine taking that same step?

categories: your turn

Comments

I couldn't do what Phyllis Rodriguez did. I know the next comment should be to admire her strength,but I honestly don't know whether to compliment her or comdemn her. Do we know for sure that Moussaoui's hatred wasn't family bred? It all comes down to 'walking a mile in a man's shoes' and I certainly didn't lose anyone on 9/11 as close as a son. For now I know I can respect Phyllis' and her choice, because I know I couldn't do the same.

Posted by: John Mac at September 6, 2006 5:00 PM

Complete and utter insanity. Our softness is going to get us all killed.

Posted by: Karol at September 7, 2006 4:57 PM

The first two comments on this thread are tragic. They express the deification of mindless hate. Rodriguez is an extraordinary human being who refuses to give into hate. She refuses to erase the humanity from the enemy's face even though the world tells her that's exactly what she is supposed to do. She is a testament to the very best of humanity.

Posted by: sandra at September 8, 2006 7:06 AM

Yes its bad that this is happened! But to befriend a terrosists mom....dont think so. Alot of people died innocently, and I dont think befriending the enemies mom is a relief! We dont know for a fact that this monsters family was the one that put all those ideas in his head! We werent there to see if it did or didnt happen. The fact remains...alot of people died that day, and I wouldnt want anything to do with anything that has to do with these people!!

Posted by: at September 8, 2006 9:00 AM

If the terrorist's mother is guilty by association, as some seem to think, then we are all guilty in one way or another. Family bred? Genetically disposed? All the arguments against their friendship don't hold water compared to what they have in common. What a world it would be if we looked for our commonalities rather than our differences and tried to link to each other across those great divides we construct for ourselves. Some will surely call me a hopeless idealist without a foot in the practical, real world. But I ask you, without ideals and hope, what do we have?

Posted by: Janet Montgomery at September 8, 2006 10:30 AM

Does anyone know exactly what Moussouai is guilty of besides have a big mouth?

The compassion show by Americans to this poor lady is breath taking and inspiring.

Posted by: Mark at September 13, 2006 11:12 PM

Comments

Post a comment