True Courage
If you want to know a true hero and the cost of heroism, I ask that you read about the life and death of this woman…and pray for her survivors and her country.
“The woman mayor who was kidnapped and murdered by a Mexican drug gang pleaded with her attackers for her young daughter’s life, it emerged today.
Maria Santos Gorrostieta, who had already survived two assassination attempts, was driving the child to school at around 8.30am when she was ambushed by a car in the city of Morelia.
The 36-year-old was hauled from her vehicle and physically assaulted as horrified witnesses watched, according to newspaper El Universal.
They described how she begged for her child to be left alone and then appeared to get into her abductors’ car willingly.
The little girl was left wailing as her mother was driven away on Monday November 12.
For the next week, her frantic family waited by the phone for a ransom call that never came.
Gorrostieta’s body – stabbed, burned, battered and bound at wrist and ankle – would finally be found eight days on dumped by a roadside in San Juan Tararameo, Cuitzeo Township.”
If I were to post about Israel…a hundred comments would blow forth quickly.
Our neighbor dies…and few will speak.
If I were to write of another scoundrel in the church, the blog would erupt…but a heroine will be ignored.
just finished reading the full story, I don’t know what to say…. other than wow.
Michael, I agree few will speak, and for those few who do, fewer will listen,
jlo,
Thank you for reading and sharing this part of my heart.
One person at a time…
Wow.. just read the story and am really affected by this. That poor, brave women. I noticed that the article stated that the cartels profits might be less now that Colorado has legalized marijuana..we can only hope, but that doesn’t begin to solve this country’s problems. But I take hope when I read of the courage of people like this. May God rest her soul.
What would you have people say? Serious question
I remember reading about her months/years ago and thinking, “what an incredibly brave woman.” My heart aches for her children and I pray they are safe and cared for. She is truly a hero of our time.
London,
If this were a missionary…if it involved chaos and murder in the Middle East…there would be cries of outrage and concern from the church in America and maybe from the country at large.
Our neighbor is dying and we are part of the killing process…I think this merits wide distribution and conversation.
I am horrified as I see this picture… a woman who is obviously a glorious human being was crushed in the wheel of evil … this is not ok. Deliverance has to come…
And sadly … you are correct… If she were a Jewish woman being killed by radical Muslims then this thread would explode… but more than that …armies would be marshaled in response.
I think I remember Michael predicting this very outcome when she became mayor.
Awful.
Wish there was more I could do or say, but that’s about it. Tragic.
This was a brave woman. Plato o pomo indeed.
Is there anything we truly can do but pray?
I have had two cousins kiled in Sinaloa, one was tied up and tortured and one was hit with a vehicle. The latter was a girl who was my daughters age and who looked exaclty like my daughter.
this is a tragedy, a woman of character and a people close to Michael’s heart – praying for that
however – i must disagree that other deaths, missionaries (#7) and Jews (#9) would cause this thread to “explode…” as it hasn’t so far, has it? …
perhaps, we’re all on sorrow overload and aware that we are impotent to deal with the evils that are overwhelming every corner of the world – dunno
i had some anxious hours this morning as there was another death during commuter time on the county road my daughter travels … we have at least 2 a year in our immediate area and many more in the surrounding areas … someone who is drunk or who is just too worn out to be at the wheel of a car, crosses the center line and kills an innocent person (why is it that they don’t kill themselves, rather?) – a local mom was killed and the fellow who hit her was rescued – 2 little children and their daddy are left behind today
Terrible. So upsetting. Makes me very angry.
We need to “liberate” Mexico, just sayin’
Wow, what a courageous woman. Perhaps if US papers showed the scars of evil like the UK does, maybe there would be more outrage.
Even though they are right next door, we have to across the pond for the story.
If only Mexico had enough oil for us……
i didn’t mean to diminish or break this thread dedicated to this heroic woman by mentioning that we are on sorrow overload all over the world … i was reminded of another heroic woman, Benazir Bhutto, of Pakistan and the on-going blood thirst of men – dead souls, who feed their dead souls on the lifeblood of others throughout the world seems to just intensify … maybe not, but that is how it seems to me today …
in truth, IMO – if, as a nation we held drug consumers with the high degree of public contempt and public shaming that cigarette users were subjected to here in recent years, we the people, might have an impact on this evil trade … time has proved that neither government ever has indicated a will (or maybe skill) to eradicate the pushers and suppliers … let alone the raw material producers … in reality, hasn’t the limp actions taken actually just improved the abilities of the cartels’ armies? maybe it is on our individual doorsteps? our own individual duplicity and tolerance of evil will come home to roost – a travesty to put it mildly
Maria Santos Gorrostieta must not be consigned to rest in peace now – i am praying
I read this and am greatly saddenedby the atrocities that seem to be so commonplace throughout the world. She was a true hero. I also can’t help but think of the young girl who witnessed the assault as she will be traumatized for perhaps her entire life. Throughout the world children are exposed to evil at its worst and there’s little to no help to help them survive emotionally let alone physically. Lord help us.
Michael…I’ve been out all day today and just had a chance to sit down and read this. I saw the headline, but didn’t want to give it just a glancing read as I was out and about today.
I hear your frustration and your anger…and I think it is righteous and justified. I think,along with the others who have commented, that it is also hard to know what to say.
To say that it is a tragedy is obvious…and yet the more voices that shout “tragedy” the more may hear and pay attention.
Sometimes when we see great courage and it is met with evil that does not respect the courage, we are left with silence…and that is not necessarily bad. We need to sit with this and allow it to impact us without simply reacting. Sometimes we can react to these stories and then gloss them off as we stamp our feet and raise our fist.
I’ve just finished reading Bonhoeffer’s biography and I’m left with a silence there as well. Why was he not rescued. Why did all those near attempts to end Hitler not find success?
Obviously I’m grasping for words here a bit…in contradiction to what I’ve just said about needing to have some silence. I want to respond, though, because I want you to know that we’ve paid attention.
I find that sometimes these stories are such a staggering representation of evil that it almost feels like fiction. That is the casualness of our society that has watched so much violence that it has become an entertainment. Usually on the tv show, though, the good eventually wins out…in this story there is not that hope.
One of the things said about Bonhoeffer multiple times in the book was that he prayed as though he truly believed God heard. The pastors that he trained saw this, his family saw this, his friends saw this and ultimately his executioners saw this. That prayer did not “rescue” him…the God he believed deeply heard him, but did not rescue him.
This woman…I do not know why God allowed her to be taken in front of her child. I’m thankful the child was not taken. This is not entertainment and it is not far away, and it should move us…it should cause us to feel uncomfortable and angry. Hopefully it moves us into a prayer that is birthed from truly believing that God hears us. It doesn’t mean that He rescues us from the evil…but there is a power in our prayers that will change things and will shout of our testimony.
The evil is not stronger, it is not brighter, it is not more powerful than our God.
The evil is not scarier. It is not more piercing. It is not more creative. It is not more driven…than the God who would rescue. The God who would humble himself to enter this world of pain and brokenness to rescue.
The God who will conquer. The God who will intervene. The God who does hear and act.
So…forgive us for the lack of our words. Forgive us for the lack of emotion around the stories of this place you love. Forgive us for our numbness. Continue to poke us and to prod us….and may His Spirit move our prayers and our attention.
And tonight may His Spirit envelope that young girl who watched her mother dragged away. May He somehow make His compassion and mercy known to her and her siblings and her step-father…may in the midst of their great grief they know the Redeeming God. May He quiet their souls and gather them into His presence. May He protect them and guard them and be jealous for their safety and their health.
And tonight may His Spirit pursue her attackers. May He whisper in their spirit the truth of their sins and their evil. May He open their eyes to the true evil that grasps their hearts and may He breathe into their souls the whisper of the desire to be known and to be rescued. May He make their knees weak and their consciences alive. May He bother their thoughts that they cannot rest as their evil becomes their weariness and their burden rather than their pride or their honor. May the Redeeming God redeem even them….and may He move through the land of Mexico and stir the hearts of the broken and the lost. Protect the innocent and convict the rapers and murderers and evil doers. May hope be spoken by the only One who can fulfill the hope.
And tonight may He continue to stir our hearts to not be content that a beautiful and courageous woman was horrifically murdered…may we be faithful to tell her story as well.
Sarah,
You can make me cry faster than anyone I’ve ever know…and I love you for the gift you have that makes it so.
Thank you for hearing and sharing what you heard…thank you all for paying attention.
Unfortunately, the reality is the only way it will stop is through massive armed force and/or letting the populace be armed and then they’ll take care of it.
I don’t think it’ll get prayed away, unfortunately…at least not prayed away without armed conflict to kill off the evil and restore some Rule of Law there.
…though Gangs get away with a lot of violence stateside today. Detroit is a war-zone, etc.
We keep listening…and maybe God will show us a next step to take as well.
I spent the day today in the home of some folks from our church. We’ve just finished up studying a section on Russia and this couple lived in Moscow for 8 years as missionaries. They went there after being educators for thirty years. They were called to be missionaries in Russia at 60 years old. They are in their 70’s and they welcomed our little group of kiddos…they told them stories and made Borscht for them and gave them tea with jam in it to sweeten it.
More importantly though…they told them about specific people and then they asked the kids to pray. Even the 6 year olds…and they expected that the kids would understand the needs and would pray. And the kids did.
I have no idea what seeds were planted in that little condo today…but I felt the presence of the Spirit of God in a tiny, soft spoken couple in their 70’s. By the way…they host a home group for the church and it is filled with 20 year olds who are fed a full meal each week and welcomed as family.
I have no idea how God wants me to act and minister and be….but I was humbled by this couple today and challenged to be open to whatever God might do. When Marti said, “I don’t know which of you will be missionaries”…it was said with the expectation that some of them would be….and that made me very glad.
I first saw this story on UK Mail Online and was horrified.
This amazing woman will be remembered, she will be an example to the people of Mexico, the women of Mexico to stand up and act.
What is needed more than anything else within these backward cultures is for the educated, the religious and the secular to speak out, to mobilize, to come out of the silence and resist, to vote, to organize and mobilize.
For Mexico to change it must have the will to end being pre-modern and throw off the institutions which demand it stay in the past.
We did it here in the United States, demanding rights for African slaves. We did it by demanding Women’s Sufferage, we did it by demanding voting rights and Equal Rights for non-whites, and Maria Santos Gorrostieta is the first visible international marytr of the Mexican cause of liberation from corruption.
What America can do immediately is to legalize marijuana, and manage the market just like we did with alchohol during Prohibition.
…and, yeah, the conservative church will never support it which is why most of us who want to see change aren’t holding our breath that they’ll catch a clue
This thread has sat uneasy with me all day; it has brought me great sadness, and anger. For the most part I consider that a good thing, as it has also brought to mind the perils our neighbors to the south face.
I, as several here, posted this story on Facebook, the responses were typical. Though some were disheartening, some were as heartbroken as I. While I knew before even reading them some would be condemning of Mexico in general. Though expected, I just don’t understand how normally loving and compassionate people could be so callous towards Mexico.
I spent a good part of the day wondering why we, as Americans, are not more outraged and demanding a resolution to the problem with the drug lords of Mexico. There has to be more to it than the American consumption of drugs. More to it than Americans being prejudiced. More to it than self-absorption. More to it than wanting cheap labor.
I think it is easy to be outraged when we hear about a Muslim women being stoned in the Middle East. By its distance we are so far removed that truly nothing is expected of us other than spread the story on social media. But if we face the violence that is an hour or two drive away, and still do nothing what does that say about ourselves. To make us feel better we ignore it, pretend it is not our problem, blame it on their government, blame it on easy border access, anything but take responsibility for helping a neighbor in need.
somebody says prayer isn’t the solution? hmmm, it isn’t, but i think it’s the only way one will turn up … enough of us praying everyday
erased the rest
Michael do you think militarily intervention on our part is an option? Would it even be possible?
I wrote a long response to Brian that disappeared…
No, we will not go in militarily.
Too many American interests rely on the faux war on drugs for their income.
Mexico has three sources of cash.
Oil…and the oil fields are drying up
Remittances from Mexicans living in America…but those have dried up from a bad economy here and our efforts at deportation.
Drugs…and if drugs went away the Mexican economy would collapse the next day.
We aren’t going to allow that to happen.
Here in the states, the private prison, law enforcement, and counseling industries count on a steady stream of inmates for income…billions.
Thats why the feds are so opposed to any legalization efforts.
The situation in Mexico will get a little better…the party that has regained the presidency has a long history of cooperating with the drug business for the mutual benefit of both parties.
Well, I read the article and a single emotion came forward… rage. This is not an emotion, I am used to feeling as acceptable. Following came hurt and pain for the children. Ten long minutes and I’m beginning to feel rational and less emotional.
Yes, marijuana is one of the drugs that the cartels are shipping. However, the cartels are shipping plenty of other drugs as well. Even if marijuana is legalized, it won’t stop the cartels.
Oregon produces lots of marijuana and was set to legalize it this last election. It failed due to, I believe, lack of clarity in regulation. I’ve had meetings were marijuana has bee discussed and Oregon is likely producing the highest quality and potency of marijuana in the US. Most marijuana has between 3%-15% THC content and Oregon has maintained a steady supply of over 15%. A bust near Portland recently found a plant producing up about 30% THC.
If legalization in the US is the solution to the cartels, we must legalize ALL drugs.
Military action by our government may be helpful, but it doesn’t address the core problems in Mexico. Even if we remove all the cartels, the conditions that created the cartels will still exist and a void will still exist. The government isn’t in the position to fill the role and the culture of Mexico still has a tendency towards corruption among political and legal authorities.
Where do we go from here? I think I could develop a strategy, but it would be costly (probably less costly than our current “wars”) and honestly, our government has no interest in helping Mexico. I’m guessing the reason is that a military action might endanger our side of the border.
There is a spiritual element and I understand that, but it is economic and that is the driving force. My thinking we need to repent, stop using drugs and find another solution. Now I dont know how to do that really. I think the repeal of nafta or adjustment of it could help, I think the Catholic church could really make one more dive into the breach and play the one card they do best, the apparition card. It is so deeply ingrained in the culture and is most likely still powerful moving force. No offense using the card analogy, religion really can be a force for good. It has in the past and we have forgotten that. Faith can move people in ways no other force on Earth can match.
I was listening to paul washer on youtube after I fought off the desire to get some lighter fluid and lite my eyebrows on fire. Some of what he says do make some sense.
For the record, a lot of my marijuana information comes from our local rehab counseling center. They officially could not take a position on Oregon’s Measure 80 (legalize marijuana use), but were able to educate about marijuana. I left a meeting once thinking, of course you all will educate against this measure. Marijuana usage is one of your cash cows that brings you all in money.
Economically, the US has been sinking money into things that do not produce. Wars in the short term provide an economic boom, but eventually as there has not been an increase in efficiency, nor a new product, ultimately can cause a down term. The only time they do not is when we kill off hundreds of thousands of people and increase the amount of resources per person.
Prisons are the same type of industry. Prisons produce nothing of value, though in some cases they help maintain the value of things outside. Of course, one could argue that prisoners fulfill jobs while incarcerated. However, the overhead on such jobs is incredibly high compared to the free market.
How do we collectively stop drug use in our country? I haven’t the foggiest. Some rather intelligent people that I’m aware of use and abuse drugs. So intelligence and education don’t seem to have a solid effect on people.
I almost would rather argue that it’s our spiritual and emotional shallowness that is causing the drug problem. We live in a rather meaningless society and therefore drugs either provide meaning or numb us to the fact that our lives are a miserable existence. In either case, these thought promote repeated drug use as it provides meaning or it makes our existence miserable and we need the constant numb.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/05/mexicos-drug-war-50-000-dead-in-6-years/100299/
be warned these pictures are very graphic so please be aware of it. If it is to graphic please feel free to remove it. I will admit they made me cry which made me really angry at myself as Christian men should never do such things.
I posted the last paragraph of my post at #23 on FB and it has mysteriously disappeared, along with my posts on Thanksgiving?? Who reported me, I guess posts on black Friday indulgence are encouraged, while real world issues are deleted. Sigh.
This completely sucks on so many levels! Lord, have mercy.
read all the posts here – all our thoughtful and well meaning, but lame attempts to put our finger on a solution to an unspeakable horror that our nation has effectively just closed the windows and pulled the blinds on …
we may be ignoring the catalyst, a mindset that can lead men to congratulate themselves on behavior that mimics wild dogs … “macho” south of the border is not just a romantic manly display; it has led to a bloodlust that requires dog fights and rooster fights in backyards and stadiums full of cheering crowds as bullfighters strut, a mutilated animal bleeding to death at his feet while the trumpets blow: “the bull fought bravely”
i pray that Maria Santos Gorrostieta isn’t laid to rest and forgotten with the same dangerous romantic sentiment
i read a headline today that the new President of Mexico says “it’s not just drugs…” well, i think i agree with that this morning
This is insane. What is our government doing to help our neighbor?
Couldn’t help but wonder if those thugs were armed with high-powered weapons supplied to them by our own government, through the Obama administration’s “Fast & Furious” program – a ridiculous scheme run through the U.S. Justice Department which supplied arms to Mexican drug gangs.
lxtian – has Mexico asked for our help or intervention?
DA asked, “How do we collectively stop drug use in our country?”
Really only two options that can put a real dent in it:
Do what China did with its Opium Problem: Execute people until you’ve killed all the addicts and deterred all the others.
Legalize the drugs, regulate it, tax it, administer the drugs through the Medical System, let Big Pharma manufacture it and make a profit.
Otherwise, nothing you can do to stop it or even slow it down much, if at all.
Michael said, “The situation in Mexico will get a little better…the party that has regained the presidency has a long history of cooperating with the drug business for the mutual benefit of both parties.”
Interesting point. Possible, I guess, that if the Mexican Govt. plays ball and looks the other way, the Cartels will tone things down.
without weighing in on the pros and cons of making drug use legal – i suspect that, given the climate for cheap and available sources of consumer goods (our pharmaceuticals are made in China, are they not?), that the drug cartels south of our border will continue doing what they’re doing now … vying for control of the market and smuggling their stuff in, should our “wise” lawmakers make “made in the USA” mandatory
Anderson Cooper is focusing on Mexico, including this story, on his show this week
I find Anderson Cooper to be one of the fairest, least sensationalistic, least biased, and most truth-seeking of the prime-time talking heads crowd.
London, did Cooper add any info on the above?
PP Vet, can I get some of what you’re smoking? Must be good stuff 😆
Em, I dunno. I didn’t see it. Just saw his FB page saying he was talking about this story and some other one about the violence in Mexico.
PPVet- I agree.