Bin Laden: Many More Lives Yet to be Lost
I'm disappointed and a little disgusted.
I find it incredibly hard to be happy or excited today about Bin Laden's death. Of course I am glad that chapter has been closed. Bin Laden was a fugitive of justice. He was a criminal, and now he's dead.
Great. Excellent work by all those involved. Thank you for your efforts. I mean that sincerely.
However, when I scroll through the photos posted on the New York Times, I'm horrified to see some of the images. Flags waving, young men shouting, fists in the air. A widow holding the picture of her dead loved one. The appropriate reaction from American Arabs.
Tell me, how is this different from pictures we see of people in say... the Middle East?
Oh, wait, we're the "good guys," right? Those faces are familiar, therefore patriotic.
Excuse me if I don't want to walk through the streets with sparklers and a flag cheering. My friend who lost her brother in the September 11th attacks isn't doing that either. Death isn't really anything to celebrate.
It's a sad day. A sober reminder of all the lives lost. Civilians, soldiers... so many dead.
Obama declares the world safer. Is it? Why did I see cops on streets in Boston today, where they never usually are? Why was there an ominous report about Pakistan being the bad guy- we think. Maybe.
Bin Laden, once thought skulking around in dank caves, was actually in a house in a compound, next to a training camp. Maybe he was dead for a few days, maybe the other night, either way, he was buried at sea.
Um, on NCIS they put the body in the freezer and took the ice cream out. Would it have been that hard to keep it around? Because now we will add to the list of conspiracy theories; Bin Laden, aside from being given martyr status for his death, will be hanging out with JFK's real assassin, the space aliens at Roswell, and Jimmy Hoffa.
Of course, I'm a little afraid of how we in this country would have behaved with his dead body. But of course we're better than all those heathens who would put a head on a stick and parade it around with young men waving flags, fists in the air, and the widow with the picture of her dead loved one...
Or are we?
For me, today is a day of closure. Sadness. Mourning. And some relief.
I am aware this was only the end of a chapter in a long, long book with many more pages yet to be written.
And many more lives yet to be lost.
I find it incredibly hard to be happy or excited today about Bin Laden's death. Of course I am glad that chapter has been closed. Bin Laden was a fugitive of justice. He was a criminal, and now he's dead.
Great. Excellent work by all those involved. Thank you for your efforts. I mean that sincerely.
However, when I scroll through the photos posted on the New York Times, I'm horrified to see some of the images. Flags waving, young men shouting, fists in the air. A widow holding the picture of her dead loved one. The appropriate reaction from American Arabs.
Tell me, how is this different from pictures we see of people in say... the Middle East?
Oh, wait, we're the "good guys," right? Those faces are familiar, therefore patriotic.
Excuse me if I don't want to walk through the streets with sparklers and a flag cheering. My friend who lost her brother in the September 11th attacks isn't doing that either. Death isn't really anything to celebrate.
It's a sad day. A sober reminder of all the lives lost. Civilians, soldiers... so many dead.
Obama declares the world safer. Is it? Why did I see cops on streets in Boston today, where they never usually are? Why was there an ominous report about Pakistan being the bad guy- we think. Maybe.
Bin Laden, once thought skulking around in dank caves, was actually in a house in a compound, next to a training camp. Maybe he was dead for a few days, maybe the other night, either way, he was buried at sea.
Um, on NCIS they put the body in the freezer and took the ice cream out. Would it have been that hard to keep it around? Because now we will add to the list of conspiracy theories; Bin Laden, aside from being given martyr status for his death, will be hanging out with JFK's real assassin, the space aliens at Roswell, and Jimmy Hoffa.
Of course, I'm a little afraid of how we in this country would have behaved with his dead body. But of course we're better than all those heathens who would put a head on a stick and parade it around with young men waving flags, fists in the air, and the widow with the picture of her dead loved one...
Or are we?
For me, today is a day of closure. Sadness. Mourning. And some relief.
I am aware this was only the end of a chapter in a long, long book with many more pages yet to be written.
And many more lives yet to be lost.
posted by Sara at 12:53 PM
11 Comments:
I believe that anyone who isn't an idiot is conflicted about this. I know I sure am.
Great post Sara. It is a sad day. A day when the losses of Sept. 11th are re-lived in the reflection of Bin Laden's killing. An ever painful wound re-opened.
As for his body being buried at sea, I understand that the US was seeking to abide by Islamic law by disposing the remains within 24 hours. Where else could they do this? No where. They basically had to take it away entirely. No refrigerators, funerals, nothing. It's mere presence and our custody of the body a huge point of contention and symbol of power that many would interpret as mis-used. Way too antagonistic to hang on to.
I am curious to see if any photos are released in the coming days.
like you, i think there are MANY more pages to be written.
I agree with you but believe we minimize the risk of super-retaliation and deserve more respect from other nation s for honoring his religious beliefs with regard to burial within 24 hours.
He could not be buried as it would become a shrine and object of hatred at the same time. And no, our world isn't really safer. NPR has done some great stories on this this week. I encourage you to look them up.
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I'm with you, sister.
Very conflicted about it all...
Rashard Mendenhall told the truth. Cheering for a death is wrong. Period.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.”~MLK
Sara, Do you have a language translator gadget? Your voice is heard by your people. It would benefit the world community in so many ways if they could share in it. Especially this piece. Plug it in girl.
I do not know what a translator gadget is... please tell...
Interesting!
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