Lest We Forget

Yesterday, the news coverage was all of the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Today, it seems to be all about the information that led to the finding and killing of Osama Bin Laden. The celebrations taking place at Ground Zero, Shanksville, PA and the Pentagon are, in a way, a sad commentary on our collective psyche. What have we become to "celebrate" the death of any man?

Despite the fact that this man was the mastermind of the dastardly attack on our soil and our citizens, his death does nothing to ease the grief felt by those who no longer have their loved ones. His death does nothing to bring about closure. As if anything could. His death doesn't begin to explain the reason he plotted against this nation. Islamic Jihad doesn't seem to hold in this case, since there are many other nations that don't practice Islam as a national religion so why weren't targeted as well?

Before you mistake this as sympathy for Bin Laden, rest assured that I hold no respect for the deceased. He was a coward of the ultimate order. He encouraged his fanatical followers to carry out the suicide missions that caused the loss of our citizens. He didn't join in the mission himself. COWARD! He cowered in the shadows for close to ten years, hiding from what certainly would be retribution. COWARD! He didn't stand up for his beliefs but instead chose to hide his face, not only from his enemies but also from those he purported to lead. These are the acts of a coward.

Am I glad he's no longer able to encourage further deadly acts? Certainly I am. But still knowing that there will always be a despot to take his place, I am sad. It isn't as if killing Bin Laden will make the country whole again.

So in the wake of this news, forgive me if I'm unable to feel joy. The celebrations that took place are those we usually hold when The USA wins gold at the Olympics. Celebrations should be reserved for winning, not for killing. Since I'm certain that Bin Laden and his followers held the self-same celebrations when notified that the missions of 9-11 were complete, I feel shame that we take the same pleasure at his death and fear that it makes us no better than they.

For anyone who reads this and doesn't get (or doesn't want to) the context, you can save your bombastic condemnation of this writer. I can't help how I feel, anymore than you can.

Now excuse me while I spend a few moments in quiet reflection on our own lost martyrs.