Monday, January 19, 2009

Betancourt and Johnston

I just listened to a remarkable podcast. Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist who was kidnapped in Gaza in 2007, was interviewing Ingrid Betancourt, who was held for six years by Colombian radicals. Either one of these people would have been an interesting interview subject, but the combination of the two of them reflecting on their experiences and what they learned from them was amazing.

I was brought to tears several times, particularly when Betancourt talked about how important faith was for her, when they both discussed the importance of the radios they were allowed to have and the messages they heard over them, when Betancourt told of learning about the death of her father by reading a piece of newspaper with which her captors had wrapped vegetables, and then at the end when the two of them imagined a kidnap victim listening to their discussion and gave some words of hope for that person.

They came across as two gentle, reflective people, forever changed by a horrible experience, but not embittered.

Here's an article about the interview, with links where you can listen to or watch it. I highly recommend it.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the link - I heard part of this [on my shower radio!] when it aired on the radio and meant to find the entire thing, but forgot. I appreciate the reminder!