Peace activist Terry Waite spoke in front of more than 100 people on Nov. 13 in Cal State Bakersfield’s Dore Theatre.
“Water boarding is torture,” said Waite. “We should not take the terrorist route when it comes to gathering information.”
The Kegley Institute of Ethics presented their third annual fall lecture, called “Resolving Conflict: The Test of Humanity.” The lecture explained Waite’s experience while being in solitary confinement. “I never lost faith,” said Waite, “I had to keep my mind sane. So that’s where I wrote my first book, in my mind.”
“You could beat me and take my freedom, but my soul is something you can never take,” said Waite.
Waite was a hostage negotiator in the ’80s and had successfully compromised releases of hostages in Iran and Libya. In 1987, Waite was in a negotiation case in Beirut, Lebanon.
“A key thing you have to remember is to have respect for other cultures, anything they tell you to do, you have to do,” said Waite.
Waite’s tips on negotiating included trying to talk with the head leader, building a sense of trust, examining the root issue and finding a safe solution.
“These techniques worked,” explained Waite, “but it did not work for this situation.”
Because of the Iran-Contra Affair, the captors and the media believed Waite was involved in these secret deals and led to Waite being taken hostage.
During these hostage-negotiation meetings, Waite was blindfolded and not allowed to see the American hostages. After getting the release of two out of four American hostages, Waite was asked not to put on a blindfold and if he wanted to see the hostages. “Give me 24 hours,” said Waite very seriously. “Give me your word that you will take me to see the hostages.”
The next day the captives showed up, put a blindfold on and put him in a car. He was blindfolded for five days and shoved in and out of different vehicles. They finally reached their destination and asked him to get out of the car. “I was so angry,” said Waite, “I was in a cell, my skin turned pale, my hair grew white, I didn’t eat and couldn’t get much exercise.”
Terry Waite was in captivity for 1,763 days and does not regret that time being stuck in a cell.
“I see life much clearer,” said Waite. “Please don’t look for suffering because it could find you . this is a very extreme situation, but it may happen in this so-called normal life.”
Waite talked about the time where he almost got killed. He said, “They asked me if I wished for anything.” So he asked for something to drink and if he could write a letter to his family. “The last thing I asked for was time for a prayer.” Blindfolded, Waite waited as the cold end of the gun rested on his head. “‘Some other time,’ said one of the captives to me.. I was not scared of dying, I was just scared to feel the outcome.”
As for when Waite was released, he said that “it just came to a natural end.”
For Waite, it was hard to eat and sleep in a cell, but what he really missed was a book. “Each captive that came, I would ask them if they could bring me a book,” said Waite. “All said no, until one of them agreed.” The first book that was brought to Waite was “The Great Escape.” I laughed out loud . but the second book was truly funny, it was a manual about breast feeding,” said Waite while laughing.
At the end of it all, his captors felt there was no purpose in having Waite as a hostage. “Keeping you has not served any purpose,” said one of his captors. “Well then can I have my watch back?” Waite asked him.