I agree, there will always be religious maniacs, in every society. In a good and happy society they exist on the margins and have no power and everyone ignores them. When there is poverty, fear, war - they can become heroes. We cannot reason with Usama Bin Laden, but the goal is surely to reduce him or people like him to their true station, religious crack pots ranting on street corners and no one gives a shit about them.
Quote:
Originally posted by Lebell
I believe this is part of the answer, but not the whole answer, because it assumes that all people will be rational when their basic needs are met (food, shelter, security, etc.)
This is demostratably not true.
For example, Bin Laden is not conducting his Jihad because of the Palestinians (if he was, he was be contributing monetarily to helping them by building schools, hospitals, etc.) or because he or his family have nothing to lose (he is a millionaire), but because he sees himself as another Saladan driving out the "Infidel" from Islamic lands and holy places. (That includes driving the Jews out of Israel, btw.)
In other words, he is driven not by reason, but by religious zealotry and ego.
So talking is not an option because there is no compromise and you can never meet all his demands, and if you don't, he'll continue to try to kill you.
Your only choices with this type of madman are complete surrender or fighting back.
And since I have no desire to become a follower of Mohammed, I chose fight back.
So reasoning with Bin Laden
|