John, thanks for that piece about Al Qaeda / bin Laden, by A. Roy.
In my opinion, she's an excellent commentator on the current scene (an Indian, as it happens).
> the other with the incandescent, destructive power of the utterly hopeless.
I find it hard to accept that. I don't see those who, apparently, support the bin Laden cause as being utterly hopeless. In fact, as I see them, they have the strength and determination of those who, in mythology, set out to slay the evil dragon. They are prepared to die and they are, in fact, prepared to die for no reward and no recognition. In fact, they are prepared to die without even being counted among the dead. I wonder how many of us in the West would be prepared to do that? These people are on a transcendental mission and it doesn't matter how much they are mocked and ridiculed by those who despise them, the history book of truth will yet record their accomplishments and their ideals. Those who hold them in contempt will yet learn to treat with them with the respect that their bravery --- and their humility -- deserves. They represent the highest of human ideals, in fact, as high as those of Patrick Henry, hero of the American Revolution, who said, "Give me Liberty or give me Death".
Indeed, they may even be dying for us, but we don't realize it. We are too busy counting our paper money or feeling our gold nuggets --- while we listen to the gospel of CNBC. |
