Kate Burton - Idiot?

[Steve_Luts]

I'm astounded that Kate Burton can appear on the national news saying she intends to continue working in the Gaza strip, she appears to have no real sense of the danger she has put herself and her family in.I'm sure she's a well meaning humanitarian, but surely she should know when she's totally out of her depth?

It now appears to that she was taken hostage by "Terrosists-lite" who probably had no intention of killing her, but having seen what happened to Ken Bigley in Iraq (admittedly a different country, but still a pretty iffy place) that is hardly the point. What if it had been serious terrorists who had every intention of lopping her head off on the internet, where the British government ordered our soldiers in to rescue her, and any number of them were killed doing so? Would she look so ridiculously smug on the news then?

What do other people think? I don't for a moment condone her kidnapping, but I think she is acting like a very silly girl who needs a bit of common sense!

[andy-hughes]

I assume that the motivation to go to Iraq in the first place as a peace worker has been undimmed by her experience - or she would not have gone there in the first place.

The scenario you paint in your second paragraph is just that - a scenario - none of these things happened, so speculating on Ms. Burton's reactions, or subsequent life choices is irrelavent.

I would sugget that Ms. Burton accepts - as do all British peace workers in Iraq - that kidnap and possibly death are a realistic threat, but one they accept in order to carry out the work they believe to be necessary to the future of that country and its people.

[gary baldy]

A very silly girl who speaks fluent French, Spanish and Arabic!?!? Fit aswell!
On a serious note - you cant compare the situations in Iraq and Palestine. If anything its not the Palestinians you have to worry about - its getting shot in the head or run over by a tank by the Israeli army!
Just cos somewhere is dangerous doesnt mean people arent motivated to go and do what they feel is right- besides youve got to have grudging respect for these people (bit daft if you ask me but laudable non the less)
Also if all peace workers are as fit as her ..where do i sign up.....?!!!!!

[qapmoc]

I think that many people in the UK and other developed countries are getting into the habit of thinking that the world should be a safe place without any kind of danger and that anything which is ''dangerous'' must therefore be wrong and should not happen.
Kate is obviously aware of the dangers involved in what she is doing and the fact that she wants to return means that she has made a personal choice to accept that level of threat.
I am sure that the world generally is a much better place with people like Kate in it who are helping those less fortunate than themselves.
As for the army, that is what they are there for isn't it and in their own way the soldiers made the same choice that Kate did when they signed up.

[brionon]

What is it this woman wants to do in Gaza ? Is she a Doctor ?

Does she have some expertise that the people of Gaza haven't? Surely they can help themselves? I am, genuinley puzzled.

[kick3m0n]

none of the 20 or so westerners who have been taken hostage in Palestine in the past 12 months have been harmed at all. NONE OF THEM. Most are released within a few hours of their capture. Those who take hostages in Gaza and Palestine are not motivated by hatred for the west etc, they take hostages to make points to their own government. Often they want jobs, or a certain prisoner freed, but hostages are always released, whether or not demands are met. Furthermore, when the family were nto released within 24h, the hostage takers were put uinder a LOT of pressure form their own people, as this was seen to reflect very badly on the people of Palestine, and brought shame to them, as this girl was working to help them. To liken this sitaution to that in iraq is ludicrous, as it bears no genuine comparison. Having seen an interview with one of Kate's palestinian co-workers, it seems she has been doing a great deal to help the ordinary people there to rebuiold and restructure tehir lives, and I think it is of enormous credit to her that she wishes to continue this work. I would say that she is showing a great deal of common sense by carrying on her valuable work as, in all reality, she was not in any great danger. As someone pointed out, the Isrealis would pose a far greater threat to ehr life than those who kdinapped her.

[LionNo4]

I don,t remember anyone from Gaza coming over to Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles asking for peace.

[PhilBy]

I gave up watching the news (along with the TV) years ago... Just what is it that peace workers do?

[mash]

I think she needs commending for her determination and commitment. She is performing humanitarian work in Gaza which is desperately required, the people there often suffer horrendous situations during their daily lives. The people who go and work in such places know the risks they may face, I would imagine her parents too realised this when they travelled there. Dispite what she has been through she has got on with the job she went to do and given the 'bird' to the stupid fools who feel that hostage taking and terrorism get you anywhere.

If no one was prepared to take such risks and we all threw our hands in the air and surrended everytime terrorists react as they do there would be much much more suffering in such counties than the the dreadful amount there is already.