The ‘mind’ (?) of a suicide bomber

There are some people who are such strong believers in something that they are willing to give their lives if necessary.

Some would willingly die for “you,” in some situations.

If a violent criminal invaded your home and you had to risk — or even lose — your own life to protect your wife or your children, you might not hesitate to make the supreme sacrifice.

We might even be willing to do the same thing for strangers in some cases.

If, for example, the opportunity arose to save someone from a fire, or pluck a child from the course of a speeding car — at the cost of the rescuer’s life — some would do it.

Some wonderful, altruistic people would dash into any dangerous situation to save a trapped victim, or try to save a child from the clutches of some kind of criminal monster.

And there are many other terrible situations in which good people would consider others above themselves.

Many are called into military service for the defense of our people and our country. Many — literally many millions of Americans — have been willing to risk their lives in military service for our country, and tens of thousands have died in their courageous and unselfish service.

But most Americans surely are amazed when we read in the newspaper — frequently — that someone has become a “suicide bomber” to kill others indiscriminately!

Some suicide bombers might try to explain their acts by saying, “It’s like being willing to die in war.” But it’s not the same. In war, we expect to serve a cause that will contribute to a desirable goal. But does a suicide bomber really think that way? Oh, he’s dedicated, but he is horribly deluded when he murders other people with no prospect of “gain.” Most of the suicide bombers we read about blow themselves up in public places, killing and maiming innocent people — and that’s it. They do not advance their “cause” in any way.

Some of the religious suicide bombers in the Middle East surely must think that by killing their enemies they can gain some eternal “reward,” perhaps a place in “paradise.”

But in our Western minds, most of us would not think that we should be rewarded for indiscriminately murdering innocent people. Quite the reverse!

There are many people throughout the world who obviously believe otherwise.

For most of us, however, it is impossible to understand suicide bombers who are eager to kill innocent people. But sadly, and quite regularly, we see a news story about such killers.

Do they really think they are doing “good”?

The suicide bombers usually are not truly “insane.” Most of them are surely “dedicated.” We must beware of them as best we can.

Isn’t it a shame that all the rest of us are not motivated to do “real good” for others to the same degree that some people are dedicated to doing evil?