Ex-hostage shuns poppy's symbolism

James Loney's controversial stance challenged at U of G lecture

Laura Thompson, Guelph Mercury, 11 Nov 06

MILNEWS.ca Media Summary Report of rescue (updated 11 Apr 06) - MILNEWS.ca Editorial

Despite his gratitude to elite British troops for rescuing him from his captors in

Iraq, James Loney says he can't wear a poppy on Remembrance Day.

"They (military forces) believe in what they're doing, and more than that,

they're risking their lives. . . . That is an amazing gift," he told a University

of Guelph audience yesterday.

"And that's what we are trying to remember and think about on Nov. 11.

"But having said that, I still can't wear a poppy."

His statement, coming on the eve of Remembrance Day, was timely

and controversial.

After his hour-long talk at the U of G's Peter Clark hall, a couple of

members of the audience stood up to explain the importance of pinning

the red flower on one's lapel.

For most, it's a symbol of the Remembrance Day maxim -- lest we

forget. It's also a small way to recognize the sacrifice of veterans.

But for Loney, the poppy represents something entirely different. It

represents military preparedness to engage in war.

"It says we have to be ready for the next time," he said. "Vigilance."

Loney and two other members of Christian Peacemaker Teams were

rescued from an abandoned house near Baghdad on March 23.

The pacifists, who were in Iraq to learn about human rights abuses

and bring attention to the plight of Iraqis, had been kidnapped and

held hostage since Nov. 26, 2005.

A fourth hostage, American Tom Fox, had already been executed. His

body was found on March 9 in Baghdad.

Loney told the Guelph audience that during his roughly four months as

a hostage, he came to see the room he was held in as a tomb.

But that feeling didn't dissipate when soldiers rescued him and his two

fellow pacifists.

Loney said he was moved from his captors' makeshift prison into a

tank, which brought him to an American base, also host to coalition

forces, in Baghdad.

"I felt like I had moved from one tomb into another tomb," he said.

"I didn't feel free from the world of the gun until I got out of the RCMP

car (in Canada) and into my own home," he said.

In his address, Loney conceded the irony that he and his fellow

Christian Peacemaker Teams hostages were rescued by British

troops -- members of the same military force he has spent his life

opposing.

"My standing here right now is something of a paradox," he said.

"Our captivity was resolved by British Special Forces.

"I'm profoundly sad it was the war machine, really, that was able

to resolve the crisis in the end."

In the 118 days he was held captive in Iraq, Loney thought

constantly of escape. He played out exit strategies in his head,

imagining different ways to outsmart his captors.

He thought of trying to smash an object over one of their heads,

like they do in the movies. But being a pacifist, he dismissed the idea.

Instead, he prayed to stay grounded in the present moment while

he tried to understand his kidnappers' motives.

He also worked through the fear, anger and boredom he felt most

days.

It was never easy, but there were moments of reprieve, like when

he and the other hostages watched Hollywood action films with

their abductors.

The plots were always the same -- good guys versus bad guys.

The abductors cheered the good guys on. That's how they

perceived themselves.

Following his return to Canada on March 26, Loney stayed

for two weeks with family in Sault Ste. Marie, where he was

born and raised.

After that, he returned to Toronto with his partner, Dan Hunt,

who stayed silent during Loney's captivity. Family members

did not reveal Loney is gay out of fear for his safety.

"Here I am. I'm free today. It's very possible if there hadn't

been a military rescue I would have been killed," he told the

U of G audience.

Still, Loney said the experience made him realize the "tomb"

in which he was held captive belonged not to rescuers nor his

captors.

"The tomb is really violence itself," he said. "That is the logic

of violence. You have to go all the way, because when you start, it's

kill or be killed. It's dominate or be dominated. And you can't stop."

And so for Loney, it's the poppy or peace. He chooses peace and

wears a Christian Peacekeeper Teams button instead.

It's his choice not to wear a poppy, said Maurice Ferris, president

of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 234, adding that Loney

misinterprets its meaning.

"The poppy is the symbol of remembrance, to remember people

who gave their lives," the veteran said.

"When you look at terrorism, pacifism doesn't work. He found

out firsthand."