Should we forgive Osama Bin Laden?

The question of forgiving Osama Bin Laden has never really come to mind. My initial reaction to this question is No, why would I forgive a man who has hurt my country and more importantly the people of my country. The concept of forgiveness is hard to fathom when I think of so many people who lost their lives from 9/11 and the many people who are still affected today. 

Mike Hayes explains that forgiveness should always be offered. Although forgiveness should be offered, must we forgive if the person is not truly sorry? If Osama Bin Laden wanted forgiveness, would he have asked? Finally Hayes states that whether we are happy to or not, it is important for us to forgive Osama Bin Laden, because if we don't we are more like him and less like God. 

Each day we strive to act more like God and follow Jesus's example. One example that comes to mind is the story of the two sons. The one son takes his inheritance, leaves home, spends it frivolously and comes home begging for help. While the other son saves his inheritance, stays home and works wit his father. When the first son returns, his father is elated and throws him a party. Because he does this, the second son is very upset that his brother is being treated with such importance, after all he was the more responsible son. Jesus teaches us that the father was able to forgive his son simply do to his love for him. 

It is hard for me to come to a final decision on whether I should forgive Osama Bin Laden or not. I feel that at this point in my life, I will try to work towards forgiveness. I know that this forgiveness will not come quick, but in the hopes of being more like God rather than Osama Bin Laden, I will work towards this.