(Bedford) Times-Mail
It’s hard to imagine what the organization known as the Islamic State is trying to accomplish through its repeated and revolting acts of barbarity and violence.
The latest horror — the killing of Indianapolis native Peter Kassig — was reported Nov. 16.
By all accounts, Kassig was an honorable, admirable person. The 26-year-old was a former Army Ranger. He was kidnapped by Islamic State militants in October 2013 while delivering relief supplies. A person of faith, Kassig had converted to Islam while in captivity and took the first name Abdul-Rahman.
Still, he was put to death by people intent on reducing our world to bloody chaos.
Many Hoosiers spoke eloquently about Kassig as news of his death spread. Perhaps the most pointed comments came from James Danko, president of Butler University. Kassig had attended Butler.
Danko said Islamic State militants “accomplished nothing through this abhorrent act of violence.” He added all the group “has done is taken away a good person who wanted to help the Syrian people.”
In offering prayers and support for Kassig and his humanitarian goals, Danko said Kassig “approached life selflessly and courageously.”
Other Hoosiers stepped up, too. U.S. Sen. Dan Coats called Kassig’s slaying a “tragic murder,” saying the Hoosier’s life was “cut short by savage barbarians who terrorize the innocent.”
Fellow U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly said Kassig will be remembered as someone who made extraordinary sacrifices to help people in need. He urged Hoosiers to pray for Ed and Paula Kassig as they mourn their son.
Gov. Mike Pence ordered flags lowered at state buildings and called Kassig’s killing “an unspeakable act of barbarism.” The governor declared an official period of mourning to begin at sunrise today.
Kassig, the governor said, “was one of us, and he was the best of us.”
As the remarks indicate, this is a painful, frustrating and dangerous time for all Americans. The volatile mix of politics, religion and historic animosity in the Middle East seems to be getting more explosive as the years go by.
Now we’re facing a band of murderous thugs intent on shedding the blood of innocent people — even those, like Kassig, who only wanted to help others.
We agree with Danko. The Islamic State has accomplished nothing — except to earn the contempt and united opposition of civilized people around the globe.
We join the Kassig family and all Hoosiers in mourning the death of a good man. As Pence said, Kassig “was one of us, and he was the best of us.”
This was distributed by Hoosier State Press Association. Send comments to [email protected].