Powerful. Really makes one think, especially the part about how each young person corrupted by bin Laden could be a successful professional, who could do good for the Middle East and the world.
I really respect you for speaking out with a rational voice on such a divisive topic.
You are right, Bin Laden is not a warrior, Bin Laden has reduced himself to nothingness. Certainly he has forfeited his own claim to membership in the human species, but I find myseld unable to agree with those who seek to vilify him by saying things like he is worth no more than a worm. Look at any worm and you are looking at a creature who spends its life accomplishing the worthwhile -aerating soil makes a huge difference, as does assisting in the composting of waste. These actions result in life, not death. All of Bin Laden's actions are aimed at the extermination of life - of the body and of the soul. If he truly wants to gladden the Almighty and prove that he is willing to give himself to the greater glory of God, a quiet little act of suicide would be wonderful. He could take poison and lay himself down on a compost heap to wait for it to kill him. Then the worms could begin helping him to do the first positive thing in his entire existence, by turning him into fertilizer. Being able to spread composted Bin Laden over a flower bed where his worm-gnawed remains could contribute to the beauty of the blooms would be the only way to redeem anything of value from his lifetime of wilful destruction.
Well said aka, but I don't know if I'd want bin-Laden fertilizer tainting my azealeas. Couldn't we just burn his corpse and toss the ashes in the local waste dump???
Brilliant piece of writing, Amal!
I'd say the people in charge of the groups are working mentally off a combination of money. power, and actual faith. But you know the old saying, "if you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything?" The folks in charge may be chasing secular agrandizement, but many of the folks they attract really believe they'll get their 70 virgins through misguided but well-marketed jihad. To parpahprase the State Dept Foreing Service Institute, when you're poor, have no prospects, and ultimately have nothing left to lose, the thought of salvation through "taking it to the infidel" is a powerful motivator.
And the other fighters? They're fighting for a paycheck and the associated 401K.
Now, if only more muslims shared your views ... and if only there were more willing to take back their religion ... the world would be a better place, as there would be no need for bin Ladens or Bushes.
Incredible post Amal!
I'm so unreligious that I really can't add anything intelligent. So, I'll just bow out of this one...
Religion makes me sick...
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