Originally posted by muslim youth
Little_Acorn, long time no hear...how u been?
Pretty busy... little one wasn't feeling good today, so no school (it wasn't a dodge, he actually likes school!).
What happened to your U.S. trip? Still on? Already completed? ...?
Now about the topic, if I held a gun to ur head, would u let me shoot u or would u try to defend urself..
Well, I think you and I both know that's not a very good comparison. The U.S. had not attacked bin Laden in any way before he started trying to blow up the WTC (1993), embassies, warships etc. In fact, we supported him and others against the Russians in the 1980s. After he started killing our people who had not attacked him, though, naturally we came after him. As you said, Islam does permit one to defend one's self from attack.
Your point does raise an interesting question, though, one which I honestly don't know the answer. Please do not take offense if I'm out of line here. But if a person has committed a terrible crime, such as the murder of innocents, does Islam permit him to "defend himself" against those carrying out a legitimate punishment against him for his crime? Of course Islam forbids the crime of murder. But once a criminal commits that crime anyway, what does it say about his actions afterward?