``We are seeking to incite the (Islamic) nation to rise up to liberate its land and to (conduct) jihad (holy war) for the sake of God," said Osama Bin Laden to al-Jazeera (U.S. Veteran Dispatch). Jesus said, “In the world you will have trouble but take courage for I have conquered the world” (ThinkExist). These two quotes have similar meanings—their gods are the rulers of the world, and they will go to all the means they can to have their god in control of the world. The idea of two religious icons with the same, yet different ideals is a startling thing to compare. A painting of the morphing of Jesus Christ into Osama Bin Laden by Priscilla Bracks, gives a deep meaning to the controversies over two wildly different religious views. To understand it, however, one has to know the troubles of the world at this current time. Bin Laden is seen as a hero to many radical Muslims. He planned and ordered the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States in his “jihad,” or holy war. This act has been viewed many ways. From America it has been seen as terrible. He is seen as a threat to society. In other countries and to other cultures he is revered as someone to stand against the wrongs, things that Allah—the Muslim god—would not approve of. So what does he have to do with Jesus? Through the rhetorical strategy of compare and contrast and the rhetorical appeals the relationship of the two icons will be most apparent, and cause one to think about how Bin Laden is going to be portrayed in the future.
In the painting, one similar to a common representation of Jesus Christ, Osama Bin laden is gazing out to the audience. A halo of light surrounds his head with rays of purity beaming from it. His caring-like posture resembles the idea Christians have of Jesus, the way he would look upon a child he cared for. The rest of Bin Laden in clad in a white robe, giving off a feeling of goodness. The hair that flows on to his shoulder is distinctly Christ-like however, and the image is clearly seen as an in-between stage of the transformation of Jesus to Bin Laden.
There are many similarities between the two icons historically. They are both seen as leaders or teachers for a specific religious group. Jesus was King of the Jews, whereas Bin Laden has been a huge leader for the Muslims. Both were also frowned upon by a larger political group. Jesus was persecuted by the Romans. They feared his teachings were blasphemous to the church and that he posed a huge threat to their control if he was really the Son of God as he said he was. Bin Laden is opposed by the United States. He is in hiding for his life because the United States is afraid of him for their safety. In the end Jesus was killed by the Romans, sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate. In the end will Bin Laden be killed by America—the ruling of our government sentencing him to death out of fear?
Although they are similar, the two figures also have many extreme differences, which makes one wonder if the painting is more of a comparison of good and evil, rather than two alike things. From the perspective of a Christian, Jesus came to earth to help people. He brought Lazarus back from the dead, fed five thousand with only two fish and a few loaves of bread, and brought sinners to God. He was perfect, unlike his counterpart in the drawing. Christians see Bin Laden in another light. He preaches about his “holy war.” He wants those who are not of the Muslim faith to be killed “for Allah.” He is not merciful, he is merciless. He ordered the killing of many Americans, and has yet to perform any miracles. However, from the radical Muslim’s point of view, he has done much good to purify the world of non-believers. He is starting the fight for Allah against the Christian nation of America. Jesus is frowned upon in Bin Laden’s world, and this painting would likely be seen as an insult to the Islamic faith to see one of their heroes portrayed like Jesus Christ.The differences in the two icons above show the rhetorical strategies of compare and contrast and analogy and begin to bring ethos, or appeal of character, into play as an important appeal to understanding this piece. Depending on the culture of the viewer, this painting could invoke different types of ethos. To a Christian it could be seen as an insult to their faith. The way a halo of light surrounds Bin Laden’s head gives him a good aura, which might be taken as offensive, just as the way his physical characteristics mimic Jesus. They might believe that the artist was trying to give Bin Laden the good ethos that they associate with Jesus. On the other side, followers of Bin Laden might see it as a detriment to his ethos. Since they believe that Islam is the right religion, they don’t hold the same ideals of good and evil associated with the two icons. They could see Bin Laden’s portrayal as being like Jesus as an insult and negative ethos.
It could mean that evil can be disguised as good. Bin Laden appears to be like Jesus, but because of the kairos, or cultural context, of the subjects, the viewer knows that not to be true. This comparison could be showing a relationship between the two people. Jesus was in a similar situation as Bin Laden, only two thousand years ago. Now he is worshipped by millions and seen as a hero for the Christian faith. Could Bin Laden be headed down the same path? Many people believe him to be a hero for the Islamic faith. So not only does the ethos of the subjects of this art piece get challenged, but the ethos of the people of the world gets challenged. Some could question if this representation of Bin Laden is how the world we think of him in two thousand years. If the trend is turning from Christianity to Islam, will ethereal portraits of the radical leader be hanging in homes being worshipped? From a Christian standpoint, the ethos of the world seems to be heading down a bad slope, their character slowly diminishing to worshipping terrorists. Radical Muslims might see the ethos of civilization in a negative way also. This painting might make them feel like the world sees their leader as a joke, giving them a negative character.
This comparison and establishment of the two icons’ ethos illustrates sets a basis for emotional connection or reaction to the piece. Seeing this comparison would inflict many emotions, or the pathos, of the viewer if he or she was American or Muslim. To any audience, this comparison will “put the audience in a particular mood or frame of mind” (Alfano and O'Brien 38). Both sides would likely be outraged at the way their heroes were made subject to a comparison. Neither side likes the idea of being associated as the same as the other, which is sure to cause resentment as well. The image could almost be an exaggerated use of pathos; the striking idea that Jesus and Bin Laden are on the same level could be argued to be a scare tactic, making the viewer look longer to figure out what is really going on.
This art piece, through compare and contrast, argues where the world is headed to—putting terrorists on the same level as prophets, or replacing a hero with a blasphemous Jew who believed he was the Son of God. This idea of Bin Laden being the same as Jesus is just an analogy for the beliefs of many people of the world and how they view their religion. As a Christian it has switched from being an idea of making miracles and loving people to holy wars, killing, and destruction. Yet, Bin Laden is still an iconic figure, and may someday two thousand years down the road have is portrait hanging in homes as a martyr and leader of a widespread religion.
Works Cited
Alfano, Christine, and Alyssa O’Brien. Envision: Persuasive Writing in a Visual World. Longman, 2005.
The U.S. Veteran Dispatch. 22 Nov. 2008. 22 Nov. 2008 http://www.usvetdsp.com/osam_qts.htm
ThinkExist. 22 Nov. 2008. 2006 http://thinkexist.com/quotes/jesus_christ/2.html
