Jill Carroll
Jill Carroll
Jill Carrollis an American former journalistwho was kidnapped and ultimately released in Iraq. Carroll was a reporter for the Christian Science Monitor at the time of her kidnapping. After finishing a fellowship at Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy she returned to work for the Monitor. After her release, Carroll wrote a series of articles on her recollection of her experiences in Iraq...
happiness happy love morbid sounds strange
I've never been as happy as I am here. It sounds strange and kind of morbid to say it, but I really love this place.
accurate captive forced personal reflection taken
Things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal views. They are not.
treated
I was treated well, but I don't know why I was kidnapped.
happy hit people threatened treated
I was treated very well. That's important people know that. They never said they would hit me, never threatened me in any way. I was just happy to be free, and I want to be with my family.
please quickly whatever
I am here. I am fine. Please just do whatever they want, give them whatever they want as quickly as possible.
encouragement essay hotel night note praise small
One night she slipped a note in my hotel mailbox. It was a small essay of encouragement and praise from out of the blue.
alive appreciate directly face finally luxuries outside step sun
I finally feel like I am alive again. I feel so good. To be able to step outside anytime, to feel the sun directly on your face - to see the whole sky. These are luxuries that we just don't appreciate every day.
alive finally
I finally feel like I am alive again. I feel so good.
few four goes half hour hours stays three
It stays on for about an hour and a half and then goes out for a few hours. Back in October, we would get three or four hours at a time.
cliff falling hit three waiting
It was like falling off a cliff for three months, waiting to hit the ground.
food given good guest kept treated
They treated me very well, like a guest given good food, kept safe, treated very, very well.
fear fearing speak threatened
At any rate, fearing retribution from my captors, I did not speak freely. Out of fear, I said I wasn't threatened. In fact, I was threatened many times.
forced last night propaganda
During my last night in captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video.
elections gave government hope improved iraqis life people planned quality saying street
Iraqis in the street are saying that the Shiite-dominated government planned it that way. The elections gave people hope for an improved life, but immediately after the vote, the quality of life declined.