Matsas is the staff development coordinator for the Student
Affairs Division.
By Solomon M. Matsas
Osama bin Laden is not a man of God ““ he is a man
infatuated with himself. We should not be afraid to state the
obvious. It’s all about him, not a jihad inspired by Allah.
Bin Laden saying his motives are inspired by Allah is a fake
credibility prop, used to get poor and disenfranchised people
worked up into a death frenzy.
Invoking God, as bin Laden does, makes it acceptable to kill. By
that credo, the Bible, Torah and Koran all have passages which
justify practically anything if it’s done “in the name
of God.”
The strongest quality of these three great books ““ that
is, their innumerable interpretations and universal relevance
““ can also be their weakest aspect. Anyone can find
scriptures to justify the murder or killing of innocent people
““ God forgives murder in all three books.
But the entire notion of killing by God’s hand is complete
hogwash. God is never held hostage by the paltry ambitions of
mortals.
It’s pompous lunacy ““ no matter what religion is in
question ““ to think that your cause, your injustice, your
struggle justifies all manner of destruction and cruelty.
The Koran specifically forbids the killing of “People of
the Book,” sons and daughters of Abraham. It also
categorically forbids the killing of women, children, the poor,
non-combatants and even trees.
But the Koran also has scriptures that say it’s
God’s will that “infidels” be killed wherever
they are found.
The very best of the Koran itself has been hijacked by bin Laden
and others like him, just as any holy book has the potential of
being co-opted to whoever’s cause for whatever reason that
any group decides is divinely approved.
This is not a battle between religions. This is a war against
one megalomaniac, narcissistic, twisted Daddy’s-trust-fund
terrorist who believes in his own cult myth.
It’s a larger war against the network that has been
created for the sole and publicly stated purpose of destroying the
freedom and liberty of Western nations, who they self-righteously
believe have brought immorality to civilization.
We must understand that bin Laden doesn’t respect anything
except brutal, unyielding resolve to avenge through killing and
carnage.
The United States should adopt the same strategy. However, we
should make our moves more strategic, aiming at the terrorists
exclusively and not the Afghani population, who no doubt wish to be
liberated from both bin Laden and the Taliban’s fearful
domination.
They are holding Islam hostage. Islam must be freed from the
tyrannical bondage of these extremists who would pervert the
peace-based Koran to further their own profane and godless
self-absorption.