Omar Bin Laden: Why I Refused To Follow In My Father's Footsteps

Guardian:

Having a famous father is not always easy: the burden of expectation can weigh heavily on young shoulders. So what to do when your surname is Bin Laden?

Read the whole story: Guardian

Comments

[Durango]

11:21 AM on 11/20/2009

The bin Ladin family is HUGE, even by Catholic standards.

Huge and diverse. I have not heard of any other family members, aside form his wives, who have taken the path to al Qaida. (could be mistaken about that, but I haven't heard.)

Like wise, while al Qaida undoubtedly has support within Saudi Arabia, and probably within the Royal family, that family is even larger an mre divrse than the bin Ladins.

It would behoove us all to not generalize and simplify the Muslim world. It is large, it is complex, it has many, many competing interests and beliefs.

Which can be seen within the bin Ladin family, let alone the billions of other Muslims in the world.

[Cambridge9]

08:01 AM on 11/20/2009

I think I will order and read that book. I just can't imagine the agony this young man goes thru daily.

It is said that 'you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family'.

I wish this young man PEACE!

[Usama]

07:54 AM on 11/20/2009

There;s nothing wrong with the name Bin Laden. The stigma of the name looms dark in the West, but the Bin Laden family is respected in Arabia and people can distinguish between family members- the sins of the father are not passed to the son unless he chooses to follow his way. BTW, the good deeds and exemplary life of the grandfather still holds weight in Arab countries among the rich and powerful. So the attempts by Western media to smear the entire family fall on deaf ears in the Muslim world. As well, the British are more discreet than American media.

Its no wonder Bush flew the Saudi and bin Laden family out of America. Americans are not known for discretion or distinguishing between people who are good and bad when they are from another country and have foreign names. Recall that for several years, the entire Muslim world was percieved as terrorists. Rednecks even attacked Sikhs for wearing turbans. I even heard of an Italian man attacked because some rednecks saw his olive skin and assumed he was an Arab. Thats how America roles. Or at least it did.

Good to see sanity and reason have resurfaced again. Peace.

[Durango]

11:25 AM on 11/20/2009

I agree, except that when you state "for several years, the entire Muslim world was perceived as terrorists."

That should not be in the past tense.

If you had seen some of what Republican fools in Congress were saying recently, not to mention the knee jerk to the Fort Hood shooting the sterotyping of Muslims is still going on strong.

[mamacat]

06:55 AM on 11/20/2009

If his own son, who was groomed during his time in the camps in Afghanistan to become a suicide bomber, can turn away from violence and extremism, then maybe there is still hope for a peaceful accomodation between differing peoples.

[Durango]

11:43 AM on 11/20/2009

i agree, but I doubt the leaders children are being groomed for suicide bombings.

I suspect that is strictly for the followers.

[Oleg1]

01:58 AM on 11/20/2009

If Mr. Omar Bin Laden reads comments on this website he will be astonished to find out that his father is no longer with us, Al Qaeda does not exists, and really never really existed. to begin with.

[Oleg1]

01:55 AM on 11/20/2009

Meanwhile back at the farm:

"200 Web sites spread al-Qaida's message in English"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091120/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_al_qaida_online

[AfricanWahala]

12:54 AM on 11/20/2009

This apple fell far from the Tree.

[Cambridge9]

08:02 AM on 11/20/2009

And may he find peace!

[wwoody]

09:49 PM on 11/19/2009

Wise choice not to follow in his father foot steps. You would live longer.

[Paula Ann]

07:03 PM on 11/19/2009

omar, who is asleep at 5 in the afternoon? too bad the mutawa made you get rid of your braids, it was a good look for you.

[ontariogirl]

11:10 AM on 11/20/2009

He looks like Fabio

[crayola 08b]

06:26 PM on 11/19/2009

changing your last name might help

[Tulka2]

11:42 PM on 11/19/2009

Isn't it a very common last name?

[pov]

04:26 PM on 11/19/2009

Of course, the buildings are already down.

[Tulka2]

06:04 PM on 11/19/2009

You are willing to make children pay for the sins of their fathers?

[pov]

09:58 PM on 11/19/2009

At least he should remain under suspicion, because he may just decide to take on bigger and better things than his father ever did in his lifetime, and that is what may be the most scary aspect of all. You may trust him without any concerns, but there are many who will make the point that to be a responsible person in todays world trust must be earned, and not by how many appearances you make on TV talk shows or interviews you give to inquiring journalists. It is because of who his father is, his task will be all that much more difficult in persuading Mr. and Mrs. America he can be trusted if at all.