Forgiveness

We all remember September 11, 2001, no matter how young we were. I was only in first grade and could not fully grasp what this day meant for our nation and for the world. It eleven years later now and it is still hard to understand how someone could take the lives of over two thousand people without remorse. That is why it is so hard to forgive Osama bin Laden. He murdered thousands of innocent people because of his hatred for America and what we represent.

 When I read the article, I understood the point the writer was making. We are not forgiving bin Laden for him, but to help us move on as a nation. Our religion calls us to forgive ourself others for what they have done. However, it is much easier said than done. For me, to forgive bin Laden would mean sending a message that this kind of violence is okay and tolerated. For the past eleven years, we have been trying to tell the world the exact opposite; that America will not be attacked without consequences. Even though Osama bin Laden is now dead, what he has done is still with all of us and people are still mourning the losses of their family and friends. It still feels like the towers just collapsed and it's my opinion that more time needs to pass in order for people to make peace with what has happened. Only then can we truly forgive Osama bin Laden.

 There are many acts of forgiveness in the Bible. For example, Jesus forgives the men who had him killed and who killed him. He forgave them of their sins. God forgives us of our sins, whether we ask him to or not. The article said that God forgives, and we should forgive as well. Jesus forgave people of their sins and helped them to be better. The Bible teaches that no one is perfect, and everybody sins, but we must forgive their sins. the Our Father says "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."