Reflections on Bin Laden & Terrorism

There are many who have said, regarding the new the news that Osama bin Laden has been killed, “I am glad that he is dead.” You have perhaps even said this yourself. What? Is bin Laden a greater sinner than any of us? Should we rejoice at the death of a man no more guilty of the murder of innocents than ourselves?

What you say? “How can that be, when he master-minded the destruction of four plane-loads of people plus thousands beside? When have I murdered anyone?” To answer those questions let us set aside the fact that he never confessed to those heinous crimes, nor has any substantial evidence been brought forth that he had any responsibility for them. Many will not believe these facts, so let us set them aside. Let us assume that he is indeed guilty these malicious murders. Again I ask, are we any better? Before I enumerate a few crimes of which we Americans (and many other nations) are guilty, I confess that I too share your guilt. I fully confess here and now to be just as culpable. What are these crimes? They are nothing less than the torture and murder of innocent men, women, and children.

Long before anyone heard of bin Laden, America and other western nations have engaged in various murders and atrocities against other peoples. In addition to the thousands of Iraqi deaths stemming from sanctions imposed after the first gulf war, the U.S. has been complicit in many other foul deeds against people in the Middle East. Nor are these deeds new to our era. I do not have the space to write of the atrocities against the Philippines in the early 20th century nor the Japanese in WWII, nor the medical experimentation of the unknowing victims throughout the 20th century.

Of these deeds of yesteryear we who are alive today are not guilty. Nor are many of us guilty of the pre-911 deaths in the Middle East, for of those we are ignorant. Of the deeds after that time, however, we are guilty, for we both know and approve of them.

We all know of the tortures done in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and other secret prisons; we consent and even approve. We know of the bombings of innocents. We have probably even seen the aerial murders from helicopters and the pot shots taken at prisoners through the fences in an overseas compound. These acts are as callous as those of the Nazis. Yet we see, we know, we consent and thereby approve. All in the name of safety and security.

By our consent we are as guilty of these murders as the ones pulling the triggers and the ones giving the orders. When we condemn bin Laden we condemn ourselves. Except we repent, when we stand before God in the judgment, bin Laden will be among those who will condemn us. Do not think that piety will deliver you. Only repentance and a real change of heart will do that.

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

~ Romans 1:32

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