Homecoming...at last!

I could watch the reunion of Laura Ling and Euna Lee with their families over and over. I'll bet I watched it five or six times tonight and was reduced to tears of joy each time. I've followed this story from its horrible beginning and never gave up that they would be brought home safely. I think that I had a strong connection to the story because I, like Lisa Ling, have a strong bond with my own younger sister and would have probably been placed in the same position as Lisa was if this was something happening to my family. It shocked me and broke my heart when the two were actually sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. But...with all of the resources at our disposal in this great country and all of the intelligent and honorable people working for their release, I always believed that their return was inevitable.

- The shot of Euna's child running into her arms and not wanting to let go, her husband grabbing all of them in a bear hug just wanting to protect.
- Watching Laura embrace the husband who had gone home alone to that new but empty house for the last 140 nights, wondering if he would ever see his wife again. She is home with him tonight.
- The image of Laura hugging her parents while her sister, Lisa, stood to the side watching, crying and waiting to grab her. After all the months of patient waiting and being the soft spoken but strong spokesperson for both families, Lisa can let her guard down tonight.
- And the two brave women who experienced a nightmare that none of us can imagine, stayed brave and strong and were so gracious in their words of thanks and appreciation to not only those who helped them come home, but also to those whom they will never meet but whose support they felt while in captivity. Sleep well tonight - you are safe.

Let the pundits and media argue about the merits of what was done or how it was done - two of our own are home and out of harms way. There are even those who suggest that these two journalists should have stayed in North Korea and, "...suffered the consequences of their actions." They said that getting them out safely, "...wasn't worth what we MAY have given up in exchange for their freedom..." That...is just shameful. As David Gergen said tonight on CNN in response to those that question what the North Koreans "gained" because of what President Clinton and those behind the scenes negotiated, "Why would we believe what the North Koreans are saying on their state sponsored television and NOT believe what the government of the United States is saying? This was a private and privately funded, humanitarian mission and there is no confirmation of or any indication that anything was exchanged with the North Koreans for the release of Laura and Euna. Let's celebrate that we live in a country that cares about its people!"

And jeez...not a bullet was fired, not a bomb was dropped, not a cruise missile was launched. Yes, the little dictator got his photo taken with a former U.S. President - so what? The women are home with their families and as far as I'm concerned, I believe that their release was negotiated separately without compromising our strong stance against North Korea and its policies and actions; and that it was done so with good will and courage by Mr. Clinton and those who accompanied him. Are we so jaded that we believe a rogue state government's comments over the comments from our own President and Secretary of State? Let's rejoice in the fact that we cherish our own citizens enough to work hard to bring them home safely - with honor. I believe our armed forces have a code stating that they never leave a fellow soldier behind Why should we leave our private citizens behind in dangerous situations?

For those who criticized this action - and I have to say that most of it came from Fox News (just my observations) - tonight in your homes play back the tape from your talk shows and interviews, and then watch the tape of the reunion of these families. Then, report back to us on how well you slept tonight.

I'm sure that these two brave women will continue their work as first rate reporters, finding stories that interest and inform all of us. This is what they do; this is what they love. They may be a bit more cautious now because our journalists don't seem to be exempt anymore from capture, torture or being killed by terrorists who don't value life. Daniel Pearl's horrible death was the beginning of the end of the unspoken code of their safety in reporting the news where it is happening.

But for now - Hana...your mommy is home from her extended "business trip" and she's going to catch up on those bedtime stories. Michael, your wife is home and your family is together again. Iain, your lovely and brave wife is home in your new house - it won't be lonely coming home from work now. Lisa, the sister you adore is home and you can rest. We should all give our kids, our nieces and nephews, our sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers big hugs tonight and tell them we love them.

With love to my mother, sister and brother, niece and nephews, brother-in-law and sister-in-law...

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/05/photo-gallery-laura-ling-and-euna-lee-return-home/