In the aftermath of the bombings in Riyadh, a lady from California wanted to know my response to this latest incident.
In her e-mail, she wondered if I felt sad, mad or glad?
My initial response would have been to blurt out loudly: “Sad!”
Sad because innocence was being put to the test against evil, and the fallen victims had paid the price. Sad that innocent people had to pay with their lives for agendas they had no part of. Sad because foreigners were being indiscriminately targeted through no fault of their own.
Sad that long after this incident there would remain the mourning for the loss of family members. Parents whose children would no longer be able to derive comfort and guidance from them. Children whose parents would be deprived of the joys of watching and helping them grow up. Brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles who have been permanently excused from attendance at family gatherings and joyful reunions through the brutality and cowardice of extremism.
But as I mulled over this lady’s question, I realized that all three emotions were coursing through me. Yes, I was sad. But I was mad too. Mad that there existed vermin in our society who would commit such an act. Mad that these people would use any excuse to promote their hatred to such violent levels. Mad that they are labeled “Islamic” extremists, when there is not a shred of anything Islamic about their act. Mad that our religion has been twisted and manipulated to serve their heinous intentions. Mad that they have through their actions defiled the peaceful religion of Islam. Mad that their message served no purpose except to kill and create mayhem. And mad that such fanaticism and extremism has found fertile minds to sway in their twisted direction.
And then I was glad. Yes glad. Glad because the repulsive goals of such people have been publicly exposed. Glad that their message of hatred against foreigners and intolerance to the mainstream and progressive way of life within our society has been nakedly bared for all to see. While they may have succeeded in the past in mutely stunting progress, it is finally time to say: “No more.”
And I am glad that the government is coming down hard on these perpetrators of violence.
In the words of our foreign minister: “Whoever did this will regret it, because they have galvanized this country’s determination to extract this cancer (terrorism) and ensure that it doesn’t return.” He added that they “will regret what they have done because they have turned this country into one fist aimed at putting an end to this heinous wound in the body of this nation so that it won’t return.”
And there have risen public cries of alarm from all quarters that may have silently suffered through acts of religious ignorance.
From twisted religious ideologies being spewed from dubious individuals masquerading as learned clergy, to the fostering of blind and xenophobic hatred within some quarters, all have been put on notice. Extremism and terrorism will no longer be tolerated.
I am glad that these terrorists have woken the sleepy psyche within this nation, a psyche of tolerance to others, be they Christians, Jews, Buddhists, or whatever. I am glad that there is a consciousness of living peacefully with people from other nationalities and faiths, a commitment to preserve and protect their security, and a rejection of blind hatred and intolerance. And I am glad the government will not rest until it weeds these parasites out and gives them their dues in the appropriate manner. And I am glad that the government will not just stop at that. I am glad the message sent out by the crown prince was crystal clear.
We will not tolerate the perpetrators or those who secretly sympathize with such forms of extremism or silently support these dastardly acts.
Yes Nancy: I was sad. But I am mad too. And I am glad as well.
Arab News Features 17 May 2003
