Reporter Jill Carroll released from Iraqi kidnappers...

Thursday, a joyful and healthy Jill Carroll was released by Iraqi kidnappers after being held in captivity for three months.

Carroll, a freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, explained that she was never harmed in any way through she was never told exactly why she had been kidnapped.

Her kidnapping had been bloody. On Jan 7th she, and several members of her entourage, had been on their way to interview a Sunni Arab politician when their caravan was ambushed. Her translator was killed in the attack.

If there are any unsung heroes in this war, the reporters who travel to Iraq fit that bill. Bush calls them the "chattering class" because of the overwhelming stories of tragedy and pain they file with their respective papers; stories that don't fit the Bush view of a joyous and cheery Iraq. But seeing as how the administration is completely opaque in their information, we citizens of America depend on these people to risk their lives to give us insight into the everyday events of this war. Many have said that there aren't any more Edward R. Murrows in the world today, but as gallant, courageous, and well-spoken as that great CBS correspondent was, today's war time reporters have a mettle that would give Murrow pause. I can not imagine putting myself into that position, and I have nothing but the highest regards for those that do.

In recent days there have been several commentators on the right who have shown hate and loathing towards these reporters, and aid workers who attempt to bring comfort to those innocents caught in the middle of this struggle, and in some cases these so called 'pundits' have even celebrated their deaths. (http://mediamatters.org/items/200603240010, http://mediamatters.org/items/200603270011) This inhuman and malicious glee should not go unrecognized or unprotested. We here at Word of the People think that all human life is precious from our American soldiers to the Jill Carrolls all the way to Christian Missionaries who seek to aid the wounded and the suffering. I have nothing but bitterness towards those few who put the majority into harm's way for their own agenda and greed, but I find that wishing death on those who disagree with your views only leads to more death and suffering. In its own way, violence is about as anti-American as possible. These things that our leaders claim they are fighting for in Iraq are the very principles that insulate us against that violence most foul. Our party system, our Democracy, our Congress and system of checks and balances are all in place to provide us a way to settle our disagreements peacefully and encourages us to, as Lincoln would say, seek the better angels of our nature. To hear such disgust coming from fellow reporters and commentators who lack the strength to go to Iraq towards these brave people, repulses me, and if anything sheds their true skins to expose the snakes that they are.

America, among other things, is a country built on heroism and courage, and these reporters only add to that tradition. Those that seek to defame them deserve only our ire and enmity.