Terry Holdbrooks: Guantanamo Bay Prison Guard Converted To Islam; Detainee Was Mentor

The Guardian:

Terry Holdbrooks arrived at Guant�namo detention camp in the summer of 2003 as a godless 19-year-old with a love of drinking, hard rock music and tattoos. By the time he left Cuba the following year, he had alienated his army colleagues, won the respect of the detainees and, most astonishingly, converted to Islam in a midnight ceremony in the presence of one of the detainees, who had become his mentor.

Read the whole story: The Guardian

Comments

[rissole]

I could be wrong but I'm guessing he sent away for the x-ray glasses as a kid.

[blaising]

"don't disparage him for his newfound religious devotion....he will not soon turn against me." - God.

[LeLoup]

What's the big fuss all about?
Last time I checked, freedom of religion is included in the Constitution.

BTW, how many Romans were converted to Christianity by people who were their prisoners...hmm?

[redkittyred]

This was an interesting article not because of what it was saying about religion but instead, what it was saying about the person who turns to religion.

I hope Mr Holdbrooks can come to peace with himself whether it's through Islam, or other religious or philosophical means.

[mysterio419]

This thread is full of clueless people commenting on something they have no idea about, he studied, researched, and was convinced by the religion, so he converted, u just have to admire him if anything, and stop your unnecessary hatred..

[Paula Ann]

ignorance + fear = h8red

[VanillaCreme]

10 to 1 odds this guard voted for Obama.

[Paula Ann]

two good choises

[armchairprotester]

Please tell us how this soldier is un-American. That will be a hoot.

FYI, religious freedom is clearly stated in the constitution.

[harmlesstree]

Well of course he did, If he voted! But voting for Obama would simply have been voting for the lesser of two evils! On the other hand, it is clear who his savage fellow soldiers, if they voted, voted for!

[BannedInBoston]

And this is somehow supposed to reflect badly on Obama? If so, I don't think so. For that matter, a lot of utter wingnuts voted for McCain/Palin.

[Decidedvoter08]

.... school children being indoctrinated with liberal values is more important than Terrorists indoctrinating the Guards at Guantanamo....what me worry? Hell yes.

[Nunnya]

I know,dosen't the future look great.

[mysterio419]

This thread is full of clueless people commenting on something they have no idea about. He studied, researched, and was convinced by the religion, so he converted, u just have to admire him if anything, and stop your unnecessary hatred..

[armchairprotester]

I agree with you, sir!
This is a brave man and one who stands by his own convictions and discernment of right and wrong.

[Tipotter]

If only there was no religion the world would so much better. It's just a crutch that men like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and The Dali Lama lean on.

I mean Mao and Stalin, who combined to kill 65 Million people in roughly 35-40 years (Low ball figure) were great atheists....

Power corrupts period people. All this religion bashing is so intellectually amateur and reactionary its beyond ignorant. Some find good in religion, like recovering addicts and so forth. Sure it has the power to do bad, but what doesn't? It's not the message its the power.

[evil goat]

Yes, recovering addicts. Replacing one mind-numbing activity with the next.

[Tipotter]

Not the sharpest knife are we Goat?

[BannedInBoston]

Don't get me started on the subject of institutional religion in general. I gotta go.

[Tipotter]

Okay, I won't. But your threat has me quivering

[armchairprotester]

Agreed, just like any other war in history, the war in the middle east is for land and resources.
It has absolutely nothing to do with religion and if you believe that then you are being sold a trillion dollar turkey sandwich.

[Tipotter]

Spot on.

[LeLoup]

Hear!
No cheating huh?
Zimbabwe dollars don't count.

[TJCole]

19 is too young for this type of duty, way too young, especially if you haven't got a firm grip on who you are yet...as was already said, a type of reverse Stockholm syndrome apparently..

[armchairprotester]

Read the article. Apparently, the other guards where no shining examples of American culture. Or, perhaps, that is what modern American culture has become. I'm with the guard on this one, two wrongs don't make anything right.

[TJCole]

19 is too young for this type of close quarter duty, whatever your somewhat twisted logic may be...

Our guards many of them at Gitmo were torturers and thugs no doubt, but that's a matter of record now isn't it..?

[akrishn3]

Hey Libs, here is a challenge. Make him an atheist, Pleeeeeese.

[armchairprotester]

Ha! That's assuming a lot.

[BannedInBoston]

Not all liberals are atheists. In fact, I don't even think the majority of us are. I'm certainly not.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Funny how republicans think god is on their side. I wonder what god would think of the nut jobs wanting to change the bible to take out anything that sounds liberal. Gee, I guess god wanting to help the poor will be out of the bible that is for sure. The republicans hijacked religion and now they try to tell the rest of us what to think and what we can say. That sounds allot like the nazi party. I hate to tell you friends wars are not fought by the old. Ask the families of WWI, WWII, Korea, VN, Iraq and Afganstian who lost their young sons and daughters. War is hell. My dad and father-in-law both were in WWII, Korea and VN. Both were injured and both were young men when they went in and lived to retire from the military. Allot of good soldiers die. Many of today's soldiers have been brainwashed somehow. I think this young man kind of got it right. My husband said he could see a difference in some of these soldiers.

[NewYorkStateofMind]

many "conservatives" are atheist and many "liberals" are very religious

the only conclusion you can draw is that almost all agnostic/atheists will be more rational and have more common sense

[akrishn3]

True, Like me..
I am a conservative (not a Repub) but a STRONG ATHEIST.

[evil goat]

And if this had been a middle eastern muslim converting to christianity he would be dead by now.

[BannedInBoston]

You don't have to believe in Islam or even have a lot of respect for it as a religion to see what a remarkable story this is. And, in any case, how do you know the "detainee" was not one of the innocent ones?

[armchairprotester]

Perhaps we all can learn that compassion and acceptance will earn the heart and minds of all people.

We should be dropping food not bombs.

[BannedInBoston]

We should be sending teachers not troops.

[NewYorkStateofMind]

and at what point does tolerance of those that are intolerant become irrational?

[armchairprotester]

That is a question that should be directed to the GOP since they are experience that internal conflict themselves.

I think it's important to lead by example.

[armchairprotester]

America has lost it's culture and replaced it with consumerism.
Our nation should pause for a moment for self reflection.

[evil goat]

Yes, because the countries ruled with sharia law are just so much more culturally refined,

[BannedInBoston]

You seem to feel that pointing out the wrongs the other side is guilty of somehow justifies our own. This is, among other things, a major logical (and moral) fallacy (just in case you're interested, which I suspect you're not).

[armchairprotester]

Who are we to dictate? We don't have all the answers.
America can't even provide minimal Health Care to our own people.

From a British Blogger: "America exports it's Democracy and Freedom and saves non of it for themselves. "

[harmlesstree]

Either or fallacy! The choice of society is not a binary one between Sharia and American consumerism. Just for the record, If it was, I would choose consumerism - not even close.