My first instinct is to try to find someway to be cynical or comment on our American obsession with revenge. Eye for an eye and all that.
But no.
On September 11 I was scared and uncertain as I know many others were. I cried. Not initially for the life lost but because I was truly scared. It was the first time I felt that deep a turmoil involving my own safety. The one constant of my life, the strength and invincibility of my home country seem to be collapsing before my eyes. Then I did feel an overwhelming sadness for the people who died. The pictures that I saw that entire day at school, in every class were, in a word, devastating. The pain and suffering seemed to be greater than just the individuals directly affected. It was pain and terror our young generation had never know and was not prepared for. The years that have followed have been hard and at times tragic for our country. Uncertainty and anger tinged we youth and was stuck down deep in us. After years we seemed to give up not only on finding Bin Laden but seemingly on justice itself.
Now after hearing the news that Bin Laden is indeed dead, I am happy. Not at the death of a man but at the liberation of a generation. The assassin of our innocences is dead and I say we deserve to celebrate.
My cynicism is intact but for tonight I can't help but put in aside and let a feeling of relief and triumph take it's place.
"I've never wished a man dead but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." - Mark Twain
I agree, when I heard the news and then watched President Obama speak about the events that took place I had a sense of, not peace, but some odd feeling of serenity. More so than when Saddam was hanged.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, to help bolster your cynicism. One thing that also struck me after hearing the news, was how quickly people on Twitter and Facebook turned the entire accomplishment into a rough series of dead Osama jokes. That hit me on the opposite end of the spectrum, but almost just as hard as my odd serenity did.
I Definately understand where your coming from! My only thought is that nothing good can come from killing another individual. And those around him that suffered that weren't involved really were unnecessary. If we had found him 9 years ago with fewer lives lost it might have been more of an accomplishment. This was pure revenge basically. Really sad
ReplyDeleteI also felt relief when I saw the news and agree with you. But I believe that a man that helped kill and killed hundreds in not worth the sympathy that people seem to be throwing around for his death, a person like that is not "human". Everyone dies. It is the circle of life. And without this mans death hundreds of more innocent lives would be lost. What else were we do do death was always his plan. He even ordered his men to kill him if it looked like he would be captured by Americans. And don't think for a second that that man would morn or feel anything human for your death he would rejoice and celebrate it. Would you sacrifice one for hundreds.
ReplyDeleteI think saving hundres of innocents is worth one evil persons life that is the good that will come from his death. And I would love to see anyone who could have done it faster.
ReplyDeleteI agree with every thing you said Steve, I'm not going to pretend like if feel sarrow for that mans death or the deaths of his son and a nameless women. But I do feel sarrow for the deaths of the inniconts that he is responsible for.
I agree with you. Everything you have said seems to have come from my own mouth. A great injustice was done to America, and the world since, by Osama Bin Laden. Innocent people were slaughtered for nothing I can feel a little relief and happiness for the death of one evil man. Taking anothers life is hard but I'm sure all the people who are trying to look moral would shoot a man dead to save their family if that was their only choice. That is what those SEALs did that day they protected their family and country from a evil man. Everyone dies people take each others lives every minute of every day, that is the world we live in and have created. Save your inner suffering and morals for someone else.
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ReplyDeleteYes! I agree! I do take note in the sense of comfort (albiet small on the grand scale of things to them) that the survivors and family members of 9/11 felt in this news, the members of those in the military that have chosen to have a personal stake in this particular conflict and the accomplishment that was set out for nearly a decade to bring a man to justice. Death was not the clear option, but when displaying clear hostile intent, one is then dealt with in accordance to self defense. I do not celebrate death, though it brings me hope to the fact that we (US) have met an impossible task and struck a blow at the World's worst network of terror at its core that could take decades to replace in accordance to its utter influence and inspiration. In a perfect world taking a life would not be the cornerstone to how we DEAL with conflicts on a grand scale for everyone, but this is not our world. Osama Bin Laden was the masterminded and authorized the worst attack on American soil (aside from the atrocities done to the NDN's). I am celebrating national pride (U-S-A) I only WISH I was apart of such a mission that brought comfort to the ones that lost those closest to them. It brought tears to my eyes to see the crowds around the world cheer and chant the initials of our nation like at the Phillies/Flyers games to take solace in what we ALL understand as Americans to what happened that day in September. As much as I wish for peace and try to promote it as best I can to my abilities (For the world is truly what WE all make of it) I also understand that there are some that will stop at NOTHING to do harm by those who are innocent and the symbol of what it is that they hate the most. For that, it takes the actions of a wolf to catch a wolf. This I hold to be true..."Evil only prevails, when good men do nothing."
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