Bin Laden Death Marks New Day For Muslims
Members of the Las Cruces Muslim community are describing their feelings cautiously. Some said they are not rejoicing the fact Osama bin Laden was killed but rather, excitement from what his death could mean for their community.
“A new chance for a new start,” Nabeeh Hasan said. ?To bring a very looming chapter somewhat to a close, there may be some positive light to the situation but the situation wouldn’t be described as jubilant, maybe more relief.”
Hasan said the death of bin Laden, the world?s most wanted terrorist for more than a decade, marks a new day for the Muslim community.
“Hopefully the rest of the world can move beyond the last ten years of how Muslims and Islam is viewed into a new time of discovery of friendship and community,” Hasan said.
The death of bin Laden, Hasan said, provides a sense of hope stereotypes against Muslims will begin to diminish.
“Pre 9-11 we were at a great time where everyone was working together; everyone lived together in harmony; there were no fears; there was no profiling; there was no TSA; there were no hour-plus lines waiting to get on an airplane… and then all of that changed in a blink of an eye,” Hasan said.
Hasan said this may be the first step toward restoring trust.
“If Osama bin Laden personally is the problem, the problem’s gone now, so you should look at us in different way,? another man said. ?Now you should open your mind to Muslims; you should be open to say hello; don’t stop us in the airport.”
The image of Muslims will take longer to repair than it did to destroy, Hasan said, even though most of the billion-plus followers around the world are not related to the Al Qaeda regime.
“Perhaps this is a time for people to go back and to re-explore and reengage new communities, form new friendships, form new working groups and really move toward reestablishing that era of communality here in the United States.”
Hasan also said it is going to take a much more active role on their part to help begin this new chapter.
