As we all know, Osama bin Laden has attempted to pour salt on our six-year-old wounds with his most recent statement to America. His words were both infuriating and audacious. But the interesting thing was that his words were manipulative and, at the same time, encouraging to Americans against the war in Iraq.
He ridicules the greatness of our country and says that, even though we have economic power and influential policies that are felt globally, 19 men were able to change our country, and America "was bled dry economically." But these are canned radical statements - we have heard them all before.
The next thing he did startled me. He began to speak as if he was conducting a political rally, trying to groom Americans to protest the war more ardently. He loves the fact that "the majority" of Americans want to abandon the war, and he encourages Americans not to "carry anti-war placards and then go back to your homes." He complimented all the anti-war demonstrations that have taken place around the world by saying, "the entire world came out in unprecedented demonstrations to warn against waging the war and describe its true nature in eloquent terms like 'no to spilling of red blood for black oil.'"
He also tries to make democracy the villain in the whole situation. He began trying to poke holes in the policies of the Bush administration, and he rebuked the Democrats for not making "a move worth mentioning" since they won the majority. "On the contrary, [Democrats] continue to agree to the spending of tens of billions to continue the killing and war there, which has led to the vast majority of you being afflicted with disappointment," bin Laden said.
In an attempt to demoralize our cause, he also tries to construct a parallel between Iraq and Vietnam. He pathetically attempts to paint a hopeless picture of our troops overseas by saying that they are all "crying and hiding in their barracks because they are afraid of the mines."
Throughout his address, bin Laden plays upon the emotions of liberals in America. He hits on all of the issues that liberals feel passionately about - first and foremost, the Iraq war. But then he visits global warming, the horrible situation in Africa, slavery in the 1800s and the denouncement of capitalism. He tells us to, "liberate yourselves from the deception, shackles and attrition of the capitalist system." He labels Americans as the terrorists, saying we go around the globe using "the power of the corporations" to kill whoever we want.
Liberals, do you find that your statements and beliefs are in line with the king of terror? If so, then perhaps you should revisit the situation and identify the true enemy. It is not our politicians - Republican nor Democrat. It is not capitalism or our way of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We need to abandon the argument that we should not have begun the war in Iraq. Too many people say that we should be fighting in Afghanistan or elsewhere, but have you noticed that bin Laden doesn't care much where the war is being fought? The only point he makes is that we are fighting against Islam.
Bin Laden does give us a way out of this seemingly hopeless situation, however. He tries to tell us that our nation will survive if we convert to Islam. He promises "satisfaction and tranquility, protection of our needs and interests and a guarantee into paradise." It is interesting that he approaches this in such a positive and hopeful way - so eerily unlike his previous speeches, in which he promises death and suffering to anyone who does not convert.
After hearing this infuriating address, here is what I must convey to my fellow Americanss: Like it or not, the Sept. 11 attacks changed our world and we must be vigilant to defend our liberties. Like it or not, we all have a common enemy. Like it or not, our Republican and Democratic politicians have not ended the war in Iraq. And like it or not, we are all Americans, we are all hated and we are all faced with the same enemy who wants to destroy us.
That said, here is what I have to say to Osama bin Laden: How soon you have forgotten that this is a country of greatness. How soon you have forgotten that this country is full of patriots who live and die by our flag. How soon you have forgotten that neither our country nor our economy died after we were terrorized. How soon you have forgotten that we are not a nation that gives into terrorists, and how soon you have forgotten that we seek out snakes like you who hide in holes.
Earnest is an economics freshman.
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