Words of Osama

Messages to the World Reflection

            Osama bin Laden’s words provoke a lot of thought on the concept of “terrorism”. Articulating the idea of terrorism while reading excerpts from a terrorist’s point of view is challenging in a lot of ways because in some ways it defies one’s opinion. One’s perception of a known terrorism may not change but the thought behind such a monster is quite fascinating. Reading how a mass murderer such as Osama bin Laden justifies his horrific actions interesting because as Americans, we are not to put a lot of thought into his motivations, feelings, or opinions. Messages to the World tells the story of the dreadful and bloody battle between the United States and al Qaeda during the War on Terror from bin Laden’s perspective; his words are nothing short of attention-grabbing.

            Osama bin Laden blames America for the violence that was created in the Middle East and later in the United States during the 9/11 attacks. He says that the United States was ignorant to the plight of so many people in Tajikistan, Burma, Kashmir, and many more. He blames America for the suffering of Muslims because we and the United Stations did nothing to stop the bloodshed. Bin Laden suggests that America cultivated terrorism through our ignorance. His frustrations for American obliviousness shines through to his motivations for his viciousness. Osama bin Laden talks of the superiority of Muslims and how they should claim the land from Jewish peoples that rightfully belongs to Muslims. He complains about the invasion of the Americans and Jews into the land with their bombs and guns that have taken the lives of so many Muslims. From these two factors, one can identify the spark of rage that began in bin Laden. One can understand the frustration that a person could feel when his people are being persecuted by strangers invading their homes.

            It is hard for many Americans to put themselves in the position of many people in places like Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, or Kashmir. Many Americans do not know what it is like to experience constant bombings and murders in one’s own home with no sign of change. This is why it makes it that much harder for ordinary people and scholars alike to define terrorism. One really does not know the plight of another person until one has experienced it themselves. How can people rightfully identify a person as a monster and murderer until that person has suffered in the same way as that said monster? I am in no way justifying the actions of Osama bin Laden and his group but the fact that not many people can identify with the people of al Qaeda we cannot fully grasp the concept of terrorism. Bin Laden himself says that the terror the United States inflicts on the Middle East is forbidden but “such terror...must therefore be met by terror: America and Israel practice ill-advised terrorism, and we practice terrorism that is a good act”. He even believes that the murder of women and children is forbidden by the Qur’an but since the United States have broken this rule, there is nothing stopping Muslims for breaking the same rule. Where can a line be drawn between rightful vengeance and terrorism? Where does this timeline begin and end between the “believers” and the “disbelievers” of “God’s will”, as bin Laden describes? This all just seems like an endless cycle of violence and misunderstanding of suffering that not one scholar, civilian, government, or terrorist cannot define.