Dear Sticky Wicket,
Since Osama Bin Laden’s death, do most Americans and specifically Muslim Americans feel safer from terrorism?
~Concerned in San Francisco
Dear Concerned,
Now that Osama bin Laden, whom some called the "most hated" man in the world is dead, the heavy-laden reality is that many Americans don't feel much safer. With the first news of his death, crowds across the United States celebrated, including a suburb of Dearborn, Mich. where many Muslim-Americans rejoiced.
But now, the celebration of his death has been replaced by the tangible fear that the threat of terrorism is perhaps more prevalent than ever.
According to a New York Times/CBS poll taken just after bin Laden's death, six out of 10 Americans believed his death would "likely increase the threat of terrorism against the United States," with only 16 percent feeling "safer as a result of his death."
CIA Director Leon Panetta warned, "Terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge the killing of the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks. Bin Laden is dead," Panetta said. "Al Qaeda is not."
But even though Bin Laden’s death will not assuage any further terrorist attacks, his death remains a relief for many, including Muslim-Americans who have experienced racial bigotry and hatred since the September 11 attacks.
"As an American-Muslim, I am glad that justice has finally been served for the victims of September 11," says San Jose, Calif. Resident, Irfan Rydhan. "I hope his death will be a wake-up call to everyone who thinks to commit acts of violence against innocent people. And that no matter the reason or political grievance, [it] will only cause more harm than good, and eventually you will be brought to justice for your crimes."
However, some Americans view “celebrating” Bin Laden’s death as inappropriate, even calling it "an embarrassment, which makes us look no better than the terrorists we are supposed to be fighting against," say Aadil, a Nevada Muslim-American.
Chris Jones of Virginia agrees, but only in part. "Obviously, one should never ‘celebrate’ the death of a human being. However, one should also recognize that everyone's going to die someday and that some deaths are just more fitting than others. In Bin Laden's case, he had the perfect death to match his life, and his death pleased and relieved the greatest number of people."
Michael Rivera from Los Angeles said he doesn’t feel “any safer” since Bin Laden’s death. “It was a false feel-good action that allowed disconnected Americans to cheer for something while continuing to ignore the root causes of terrorism such as the abject poverty throughout most of the world.”
Harris Zafar, National Director of “Youth Outreach for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, told The Washington Post that he hopes to see more acceptance now, although he does not expect it. “We should be happy that justice has finally been delivered to a man who killed so many people. This is a time for unity for all of us to come together regardless of race or beliefs.”
Only time will tell.