Dinner with Infamy by Sadiq

Dinner with Infamy by Sadiq - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

Tragic events occur each day and often leave us with unanswered questions. In an effort to make sense of the darkness, we try and piece together those horrible events in order to gain some sort of understanding and reassurance. Rather than exhaust ourselves by trying to find a reason behind tragedy, what if we could have dinner with its orchestrator? If I could dine with any historical figure, I would choose to dine with the infamous Osama Bin Laden. By sharing a meal with him, I might truly be able to understand his motives behind plotting one of the darkest days in American history.
There is a strong sense of division and misunderstanding between many nations in our world, especially its people. With Bin Laden, I would ask what drove him to execute such horrific attacks on the United States, to have a desire to end the lives of thousands of innocent people in less than 2 hours. Americans were not the only victims of this tragic event. The World Trade Center and Pentagon were and still are frequented by people all over the world, not just U.S. citizens. I’d want to know if Mr. Bin-Laden intended on weakening our nation on a world-wide stage or if he intended on American citizens finding the strength and courage to combat terrorism.
More importantly than that, I would want to know if he felt any remorse or sorrow. Did he ever think of his own children and family while executing his heinous plot, or the fact that thousands of families would lose their loved one(s) to a small group of extremists bound by their own personal beliefs? Had it ever crossed Bin Laden’s mind that the world would view people of Islamic belief differently and with heightened prejudgment? Unfortunately, as tragic events such as this occur, people often associate an entire race, religion or people with the involved party. I would want to ask if he believed his actions would impact the world in the way it did and whether or not his initial goal was achieved. How could a human being show such hatred towards another?
Earlier in his own life, I would want to know if someone had wronged him or the things he loved and cherished. Had he been raised and instructed to oppose the U.S. by all definitions of the word? Did he intend on being discovered eventually by American Intelligence officials and later found? Had he plotted the attacks simply for attention? Was he satisfied? Did he want or expect his life to end the way it did?
Tragic events are terrible things that should never occur and evil behavior does not have my condolences. Unfortunately, these events still occur in our everyday lives. Discovering a person’s motives for wanting to do something horrible might even give you the strength to convince them to make a positive change in their life and the lives of others. Having dinner with a historical figure would be an interesting yet frightening event that I feel would truly give me insight into that person’s mind so I can learn how they think. I might get to learn what their favorite meal is and maybe even get to know them for who they are rather than for the light they left behind or the scar they’ve created. Amazing things can happen with anyone over a casual dinner conversation; even if that person is Osama Bin Laden.