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Important reminder

2nd May, 2011 - Posted by Wolf Paul - No Comments

Joe Carter has an important reminder on First Things magazine’s editorial blog:

There is something discomforting about hearing them (people like Osama bin Laden) described as normal people with wives and children. The more heinous the actions of our enemies, the more likely we are to forget that they are more like us than we care to admit. They are not just enemy but anthropos—a human being.

We have a tendency to want to think of our enemies as sub-human vermin, as being so distant from ourselves that they are almost a different species. But as much as Bin Laden and his ilk may justify their dehumanizing of Americans, we can never fall under the same delusion. It would be a Pyrrhic victory to save civilization only to lose our humanity

We must never hesitate to defend our country, our culture, our future, and our lives against those who seek to destroy us. No one should shed a tear for Bin Laden, for he received the justice due to one who shed innocent blood.

Yet our relief at his death must be tempered by a Christian view of humanity. We must never forget that the evil comes not from the actions of “subhuman vermin” but from the heart of a fallen, sacred yet degraded, human being. If we are to preserve our own humanity we must not forget that our enemy differs from us in degree, not in kind. Like us, they are human, all too human.

Very important to remember, and it applies equally to Libyan dictator Ghadaffi and his sons and other helpers.

Update: The Vatican seems to see things very much along the same lines:

Dhe Vatican hopes that the death of Osama Bin Laden will not lead to further outbreaks of hatred. Bin Laden bears the heavy responsibility for division and hatred between peoples which have lead to the death of many, according to Vatican spokesman Frederico Lombardi in a statement on Monday morning. Bin Laden instrumentalized religion for these purposes. Nevertheless the death of a human being can never be a cause of joy for a Christian, but rather an occasion for all of us to think about our own responsibility before God and our fellow humans, said the Vatican spokesman. (Kathpress)

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