A Not-So-Sweet Tweet

Twitter has broken downs doors between fans and the media. It has led to different sports writing "social media policies" which, if broken, can lead to fines for the player in question. Recently, Ozzie Guillen was fined by MLB for being ejected from a baseball game and then going into the clubhouse to tweet about the umps in the game. Twitter has also led to a distribution of opinions that otherwise would never have come forth. Rashard Mendenhall, the Pittsburgh Steelers running back, used Twitter to share his views about the news of Osama bin Laden's death. Needless to say, they were tweets that are not exactly mainstream thought.

Mendenhall, after learning of Osama's death, asked his followers, "What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side..." Allow me to retort Mr. Mendenhall. Hate is exactly what has motivated al Qaeda, bin Laden's organization, to attack people who they regard as a threat to Islam. Whether you like it or not, you reside in a country that is considered to be "The Great Satan" by these fundamentalists. Oh, and as for never having heard him speak, well, you just need to poke your head outside your helmet to see that bin Laden has spoken many times to the American people. Anybody with an internet connection can hear his words. Allow me to assist you in understanding what bin Laden preached by quoting him. Quoting from Imperial Hubris, here is bin Laden as he addresses Muslim women, "You are the ones who have incited and motivated and before then reared all men who fight the jihad in Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Chechnya. You are the ones who brought forth the band of heroes in the New York and Washington conquests." Describing 9/11, bin Laden also said, "These great events [referring to Palestine and the September 11th attacks] are all a manifestation of the blessed jihad that has stayed its course toward the ultimate objective and Allah's promised end." Hardly the words of a man of peace. Encouraging women to raise men to kill us, celebrating the 9/11 attacks. Mr. Mendenhall basically defends bin Laden, saying he is a misunderstood man. Well, perhaps you are right. The media has not a very good job of portraying the real bin Laden since he burst onto the scene in the early 1990's. Osama bin Laden is not a madman. He was not a crazy man who lived in a cave and desired to kill every person on earth who is not a Muslim. In reality, bin Laden was a determined man who disagreed wholeheartedly with US foreign policy and haddecided that waging a war on the innocent was justified because American troops are on Muslim soil. He believed American foreign policy enslaves Muslims. The reality of it is American foreign policy does not enslave Muslims, in fact, much of American foreign policy was formulated in DEFENSE of Muslims. But, hey, what's reality when one can keep the blinders on?

It seems to me if Mendenhall had taken his blinders off he would have seen that the one who celebrated an attack he ordered was bin Laden, the man whom Mendenhall is defending.

Oh, but Mendenhall wasn't done. Nope. He continued to tweet. He went on to say, "We'll never know what happened [referring to 9/11]. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style." Here, Mr. Mendenhall seems to cling to the belief that 9/11 was an inside job. Apparently he ignores scientific fact. For someone who wishes he knew both sides of a story he sure doesn't exert any energy into finding out for himself the truth. Flipping on the television would work here Rashard. The Science Channel, History Channel, National Geographic Channel, and a host of others have all aired programs that has described the events of 9/11 in a purely scientific manner. But why seek the truth you so quickly instruct others to do.

Mendenhall, also went on to tweet, "I believe in God. I believe we're ALL his children. And I believe HE is the ONE and ONLY judge." He continues in another tweet, ""Those who judge others will also be judged themselves." Yet another tweet asks, "For those of you who said you want to see bin Laden burn...I ask how would God feel about your heart?" And then the kicker, "There is not an ignorant bone in my body. I just encourage you to think."

Think. Interesting. Not an ignorant bone in your body? Well, I agree with that. The only thing ignorant is your mind, Mr. Mendenhall. I will not tell you what to believe but I ask you heed your own words and think and look for answers yourself before spouting forth in such a public manner. Make no mistake, bin Laden declared war on us. He evaded capture for almost 10 years while carrying out, or influencing several terrorist attacks since 9/11. He had perpetrated several attacks against US interests before 9/11. Maybe, you live in a cozy environment where people will agree with you and encourage you to make an ass of yourself in public via Twitter. I am also a Christian, Mr. Mendenhall. I am happy we were able to acheive justice for thousands who lost their lives in one man's idea of warfare. These thousands did not ask for death, were not in military uniform, and were only going about their daily lives. For this, they died. Ask yourself if you believe, deep down in your heart, that these people deserved to die?

You can sit back on your computer and phone and tweet anything you want because bin Laden, and those like him, are not succeeding in turning the world into what Afghanistan was under the Taleban. What you witnessed, Mr. Mendenhall, was a celebration in response to a victory in an ongoing war against bin Laden and his followers. What you witnessed was a renewal of American spirit, not a celebration of death. What you witnessed was an outpouring of emotion that has been repressed by an American public that has been waiting for the other shoe to drop for almost ten years. By taking down bin Laden, we have recovered valuable intelligence while removing the head. Basically, we can see what is in the wardrobe instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

So, sit back, Mr. Mendenhall and continue to utilize the freedoms that are defended and protected by the men and women who have worked hard and used their blood and sweat to secure your freedoms while you made as much money in a year as an entire company of soldiers will make in a year. I don't beseech the fact that you make millions. You are a good running back and have a talent on the field that puts you in an elite category in a sport I love to watch. Good for you. I am glad God blessed you with that talent. What I am upset about is your ignorance of the world outside of football. You can believe in turning the other cheek. That is fine. We technically did that after we were attacked in 2000 when the USS Cole was attacked. We turned the other cheek when two of our embassies were bombed in Africa in 1998. We didn't commit ourselves in 1993 to uncovering the terror network that was emerging after the World Trade Center was bombed in 1993. Those are just a few examples. Turning the other cheek is an admirable quality. But, security is an obligation of our government owes us and watching thousands of people perish while sitting behind their desks at work is unacceptable. Taking the war to bin Laden was a step to ensure you didn't get blown up at Heinz Field in the middle of doing your job. So, go ahead and tell us how to live our lives while being ignorant of reality. As an American it is your right, what I like to call the "Right to be Stupid Amendment." I also have rights and they include the right to boo you, disagree with you, and cheer American victories in the longest and toughest war (a war I fought in, mind you) this nation has ever fought. As you tell us not to judge others but condemn those who took to the streets you only expose yourself as a hypocrite. Enjoy your tweeting. I will enjoy paying attention to certain linebackers as they target you as bin Laden targeted America.