Should The Whole Country Bear The Cross?

A Christmas day was planned to be doomed for many families who had relatives on the Northwest Airlines Flight 253 heading to Detroit, Michigan, on the 25^th of December 2009. A Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, born into a wealthy home and spoilt with no parental guidance, had joined the Al-Qaeda group and was to execute this suicidal task. The suicidal mission was blowing up the aircraft which contained 289 people – people who had plans for Christmas. Fortunately, the mission proved abortive. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was caught before he could set off the weapons of mass destruction; the first big question is asked – “What actions should be taken as regards this ‘Nigerian’ who almost caused havoc on Christmas day?’’ However, most, if not all, Nigerians do not like the manner in which the question is framed. They would prefer it to be ‘‘What actions should be taken as regards this ‘Al-Qaeda member’ who almost caused havoc on Christmas day?’’ Although it doesn’t change the fact that the Al-Qaeda member is Nigerian, by birth, Nigerians do not want to be tagged as terrorists. The young man, who has made a bad name for himself, is facing the wrath of the law. Unfortunately, he has also made a bad name for his country; the second big question is asked ‘‘Should Nigeria be tagged as a terrorist country or ‘a country of interest’?’’ Using ethical analysis, according to Immanuel Kant’s principled point of view, the United States should shortlist Nigeria as a terrorist country because it is the ‘sensible’ thing to do for a man who tried to ruin Christmas – Only the Grinch ruins Christmas. In fairness, this is not reasonable because with all available facts and evidences Nigeria had no connection with the suicidal mission; why should brutal action be taken? However, according to J.S. Mills’ consequential point of view, the United States should not shortlist Nigeria as a terrorist country for a number of reasons. First, as mentioned earlier, Nigeria had no hand in the proposed attack on the 25^th of December 2010. Second, trade relations between the countries would reduce, and both countries would lose immensely from this. Third, and not the last, making Nigeria a country of interest would create a bad stereotype for all Nigerians which is quite unfair, because just one Nigerian was found to be part of the Al-Qaeda community; hence, unfair judgment of Nigerians as a whole is impractical.