We've Given Offence?
We've been put on notice: Osama bin Laden is displeased with us. Which would not be such a bad thing, if we weren't placed in such odious company as Hamas. It would seem that Mr. bin Laden disapproves of the West's preoccupation with saving itself from the deadly ravages of terrorist intent. Whatever was good enough for Mahatma Ghandi, he figures, should be good enough for the Western world; take it on the chin.We've got our collective nerve! Responding to terrorist attacks by mounting defensive, and even pre-emptive moves to secure a future in the here-and-now; heaven can wait. Unlike militantly determined Islamists, most of us don't believe in a paradise that awaits us with countless virgins at our disposal. Hell, we aren't interested in that version of paradise in any event, we like our lives just as they are: vital, engaged and ongoing.
Mr. bin Laden very well knows what is happening in Sudan. After all, it was his home base for quite a long time. He thinks everything is just hunky-dory there, and we, the West, are interfering bastards for viewing the mass murder, rape and dislocation of thousands upon thousands of black Sudanese as an atrocity against humanity. While we're flagellating ourselves for inaction, and desperately pleading with the government of Sudan to put an end to the Janjaweed massacres of fellow Sudanese, bin Laden accuses us of gross interference in the world of Islam. Well, yes.
Mr. bin Laden decries the wicked unfairness of Islam-baiting from Darfur to Denmark. Hey, we should keep our nasty cartoons to ourselves, and just accept that infidel-hating Islamists will, from time to time, launch people-live-missiles at us, whether in Tel Aviv, Madrid, London or New York. Clearly, we're a grave disappointment to this great man of the people. Obviously, we're doing something right.
Even Hamas isn't immune to incurring bin Laden's severe displeasure. Discount that Hamas clearly means to eliminate the Jewish State as soon as it possibly can to make way for a greater Islamic State, and that's just fine. But, dammit, they've taken on the trappings of Western society in accepting the mantle of civil authority, however uncivil they are about it. And that's a no-go. Even Islamic-style democracy is not acceptable; annihilation of the interlopers must be attained by the power of the sword, and with Allah guiding the smiting hand, success is guaranteed.
Naughty, naughty Hamas. Which is all well and fine, I don't see anything wrong with the likes of Osama bin Laden castigating a group like Hamas for trying to play the Islamic hand in the way of the West. Clearly, this will not work as planned, so revert to what you do best and gain the approval of your guide and mentor.
As for us, we'll continue honing our collective conscience coming to the aid of the persecuted whether they be poor Westerners or poor Muslims, and damn the consequences. Hear that, Osama?
posted by Pieface @ Monday, April 24, 2006
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