The death of the “useful” zealot Osama bin Laden could be the pivotal event which opens a new chapter in the relationship between those in America and the Middle East who genuinely seek to promote freedom and human rights.

Osama Bin Laden, much like the character Goldstein in George Orwell’s “1984,” served as a “useful” image for religious and racial bigots, economic and political puppeteers, the military industrial complex and the mis-informative media which exploited the persona of bin Laden by trying to make him and his followers the face of the enemy, the face of the “other” or the face of Islam.

Now that bin Laden has been removed as the mascot for the manipulative and bigoted elements in America and the Middle East, I am optimistic that the promoters of human rights can refocus on shared commonalities. While rejecting the use of indiscriminate violence and any interpretation of religion which hinders human rights, people of goodwill also reject and seek to change those domestic and foreign policies which hinder the struggle for freedom and human rights.

Whether it is the Orwellian “Patriot Act” and economic/political elitism in America, Zionist racism and occupation/apartheid in Canaan, corruption and religious/gender bigotry in Arabia, Asia, Africa and Europe or the exploitation of workers, the poor, resources and the environment throughout the world, such policies remain as a hindrance to freedom and human rights.

The demise of bin Laden, the eventual release of incriminating information confiscated from his “cave” and the gradual irrelevancy and obsolescence of Shariaism, Crusaderism, Zionism, Caliphism and Egocapitalism will perhaps enhance the opportunity for good people to cooperate more harmoniously and continue the jihad (struggle) for freedom and human rights.

John Ellis Ishmael Briggs

Roxie resident