Representation and Construction of Heroes Heroes are often described as a person who against opposing forces fights for their rights and freedoms. Osama bin Laden is the symbol of terrorism. The monster and the mastermind, but is he really the villain that the Western media presents him as? Osama bin Laden, for millions of people, with his face regularly plastered on television and on magazine covers and newspaper front pages, is immediately associated with evil. Many believe he is guilty of mass murder, even though he has not been found or tried, and no public evidence has been released linking him to such crimes. He is loved by millions for his holy war against America and by those in the Islamic World who also harbor a strong hatred towards America for what is considered in their society to be a dissolute culture and imperialist government. "We have declared jihad against the United States government, because the United States government is unjust, criminal, and tyrannical. It has committed acts that are extremely unjust, horrible, and criminal both directly and through supporting the Israeli occupation." - Osama bin Laden - on CNN in March 1997. He is the hero who gave up an easy life to take on arguably the largest, strongest and most allied country in the world. He self-financed a global terrorist network and justified the killings with mysterious interpretations of the Koran, labeling them a mission for Allah. Muslim culture takes great pride in its abilities even through the passing years and changing phases of the outside. world, to keep their culture largely unchanged since around 600 AD. Over the years, some resentment has built up over Western culture's interference with the seemingly pristine Middle East. From the point of view of Muslims, Western and specifically American culture is offensive and dirty. Much of the malice shown towards America may stem from this, they believe, from the penetration of their depraved cultures. Although they have been active since the late 1970s, Osama Bin Laden was an unknown person to many before September 11, 2001, when his global terrorist network, Al-Qaeda arrived in the world's trading centers with two planes, 157 civilians a edge and hearts eager for revenge. Osama has been criticized for not having been personally involved in previous attacks and to this he responded: "...That the American forces expect anything from me personally reflects a very narrow perception.