The death of Osama bin Laden does not mean an end to his evil ideology.
It was September 11, 2001. Chaim was desperately trying to locate a close family member who worked in one of the towers at the World Trade Center. He went to temple on that somber morning to pray. Chaim was blessed to learn that his relatives were alive. Many others were not so fortunate.
Almost a decade ago on that day, many innocent children were robbed of a parent. Many parents were robbed of their children. So many good and decent people, loving and kind, were consumed in the Twin Tower inferno. And how can I not mention the heroic first-responders—the firefighters, the paramedics, and the police officers—who, in the haste to save others, marched into their own doom.
Last week, a single story dominated the media—the Navy Seals commando raid that ended in the death of Osama bin Laden, a man who caused devastation to all those good people. The drama of the moment evoked many questions about the circumstances that led to the raid, and a public clamor for all the details.
When I heard the news that Osama bin Laden was killed, I did not rejoice. This creature was just a figurehead representing an ideology far more dangerous than one person. In fact, I wonder how many people are foolish enough to believe the evil was buried with the man.
But, the more fundamental question remains—what type of philosophy can breed such deep hatred as demonstrated in the words and actions of Osama bin Laden and his followers? As long as there is a philosophy and growing movement that believes that kind, loving, and decent people are considered the enemies who must be crushed, we are in no position to rejoice just because the head villain was killed. Our country has designed the most powerful weapons of war, but these weapons have had little effect on the essence of the enemy, the hearts and minds of the followers of this dark philosophy.
Perhaps it is time to start addressing the perverted evil education that is at the center of these twisted and dark philosophies. A philosophy that is alien to true good values, yet, embraced by a growing number of people. As you read this, children are being taught to hate. Even worse, these youngsters are encouraged to act and cause as much harm as they can to others who don’t share their beliefs.
I was taught that the only proven formula to combat the dark powers of negativity is through the generation of immense light. Some will find it ironic that I speak this way; that I appear to be naive. Make no mistake. I am not a pacifist. I understand that at times, only force stands in the way of the bad guys, and sometimes the only immediate way to prevent violence and loss of innocent life is to nip it in the bud by using force. Ultimately, however, the only permanent answer to the power of darkness is the greater power of light.
The time has come for us to ask ourselves, what could we do to become better agents of light?
What would it take for us to overwhelm this darkness with an abundance of light?
Do you have any ideas? I would love to hear from you.