http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/international-students-have-mixed-reactions-bin-laden039s-death_12620.mp3
In the United States, there’s one headline today: Osama bin Laden is no more. Some here in Missouri have been taking time to quietly reflect on bin Laden’s death, and others have been celebrating the long-awaited hand of justice. But it’s also a headline being heralded around the world. KSMU's Jennifer Moore reports.
Here in Springfield, the English Language Institute, which is part of Missouri State University, teaches students from every corner of the globe. I stopped by today to get a more international reaction on the news of bin Laden’s death.
“He hurt my home before he hurt America,” said a Saudi Arabian student named Badr, referring to the attacks bin Laden orchestrated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He said there are conservative people who saw him as a leader, but for the most part, Saudi Arabians saw him as a “bad guy” who “lives in dark.” Sabitha, from Nepal, said she had just gone to an online Nepali website, and found that “everyone is taking it very joyfully,” and that Nepali people were in the street celebrating.
Vinold, who is originally from India, said it is also a huge story in India, which has been hit hard by terrorism in the past decade.Even India'ssignificant Muslim population, he says, will view it positively.
“Even though Osama is Muslim, I don’t think he’s practicing true Islam, though, so I guess a lot of people are happy that he's dead," he said.
One student from Indonesia, Analims, said there is a divide in Indonesia among those who saw bin Laden in a good light, and those who thought he was a very bad person. “But most of them think he’s bad, because he killed so many people,” she said.
Jehaz, a young Saudi Arabian student, said he was confused about it. “I think some people are happy when they hear the news that Osama bin Laden has died. I don’t know what’s my opinion right now. I’m still thinking about it,” he said.
A South Korean student, Sun-Jin, pointed out that the South Korean army is very close to the US Army. “I worked in the South Korean Army, so it is good news for me,” he said.
For KSMU News, I'm Jennifer Moore