Hoping against all hopes-My views on Osama Bin Laden's death

Watching the images of jubilation and liberation after the news of Osama bin Laden's death, airwaves appeared no difference between those who celebrated after attacking the World Trade Center and the so-called civilized world who rejoiced on the killing of bin-Laden. As the dramatic pictures were pouring in, I was thinking about the most vulnerable segment of our society. Having worked with children, how would I, as the citizen of the world, explain children around of what happened on 2 May 2011? When we say that taking a single human life is wrong, we say peace cannot be achieved through violence, yet our children see both as glorified.

When more and more children will see violence, in particular celebrations over a killing, they will consider it as a normal part of life, and the more they think violence as normal, the more likely they are to engage in aggression against others as has been currently studied by the Social Psychological and Personality Science (published by SAGE). Sadly, if this continues, it will be a disaster for our coming generations and our aspirations for the peaceful world will be in tatters. Lao Tzu rightly said “Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself.”

Turning back to OBL, his alleged death in one of the beautiful cities of Pakistan that I visited less than a year ago and hasty burial in the sea has raised many questions like a resident of Abbottabad and an eye witness talking to Al Jazeera mentioned that “Osama is not a bird, who came, fly and went to the inside because this is restricted area”. No doubt, conspiracy theories are born again to debate for many and this will go on for some time to come. However, if bin Laden died on May 2, 2011, it is not wrong to consider that his symbolic death will not make an iota of difference and therefore bin Laden will invisibly, with his ideology, carried by his supporters will continue to haunt all over!

Not to mention, the consequences that can lead for Pakistan unless there is a sudden 180 degree shift in the ‘war against terrorism’ policy of our government. Drone attacks have always been a strong violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, but the recent on ground operation in Abbottabad is a severe one and is condemnable in all its forms and manifestations. World with this strategy can never become a better place to live. Rather we need to work on the social fabric which includes education for peace and justice, promoting participation in decision-making and developing good governance in Pakistan.

It is pivotal now that our leaders take the common people of Pakistan into confidence and answer all the multi-billion and eyebrows raised questions leading up to the OBL’s alleged death in the heart of the country.

Simple question, yet one to ponder upon: Will it be possible one day for the children of Pakistan and this world to watch peace instead of violence and live in peace than fear? I am still hoping against all hopes to embrace that day in my lifetime!