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On the Death of Osama bin Laden
After a solemn speech by our President, I was treated to news footage of Americans dancing in the streets of Washington DC to chants of "USA, USA". I have heard calls for friends to join in a "dead Osama" party. I almost expect to see the foam fingers brought out. There are reports of "jubilation" in the DC crowds - really, jubilation?
I cannot call this "justice". I cannot see this as "closure". Justice would be Bin Laden tried before a jury on 3000 counts of murder. Justice would be a detailing of the depth of the depravity carried out against the American people and peoples all over the world at his command. Closure would be our ability to safely and with confidence declare an end to what I hope does not turn out to be a never ending "war on terror".
As we go through our days and nights moving forward, may we all remember that war is not a football game. This news should not be a call for a Fourth-of-July-type celebration. Rather, today marks a day when America executed a killer. I don't harbor "joy" at that, I harbor sorrow.
I am sorrowed that there was a need to "hunt" for this killer in the first place. I sorrow in remembrance of those who died in the planes and on the ground in New York and Washington. I sorrow for the hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties who, caught in the crossfire, met their deaths in the "war on terror". I sorrow for the brave women and men, and their families, who have stepped to the front and borne the brunt of the prosecution of this war in defense of our freedoms. I sorrow for those many freedoms lost or abridged in its prosecution as well. And I sorrow too that the death of Osama Bin Laden will not mean an end to the horrors of terrorism.
On the Death of Osama bin Laden
After a solemn speech by our President, I was treated to news footage of Americans dancing in the streets of Washington DC to chants of "USA, USA". I have heard calls for friends to join in a "dead Osama" party. I almost expect to see the foam fingers brought out. There are reports of "jubilation" in the DC crowds - really, jubilation?
I cannot call this "justice". I cannot see this as "closure". Justice would be Bin Laden tried before a jury on 3000 counts of murder. Justice would be a detailing of the depth of the depravity carried out against the American people and peoples all over the world at his command. Closure would be our ability to safely and with confidence declare an end to what I hope does not turn out to be a never ending "war on terror".
As we go through our days and nights moving forward, may we all remember that war is not a football game. This news should not be a call for a Fourth-of-July-type celebration. Rather, today marks a day when America executed a killer. I don't harbor "joy" at that, I harbor sorrow.
I am sorrowed that there was a need to "hunt" for this killer in the first place. I sorrow in remembrance of those who died in the planes and on the ground in New York and Washington. I sorrow for the hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties who, caught in the crossfire, met their deaths in the "war on terror". I sorrow for the brave women and men, and their families, who have stepped to the front and borne the brunt of the prosecution of this war in defense of our freedoms. I sorrow for those many freedoms lost or abridged in its prosecution as well. And I sorrow too that the death of Osama Bin Laden will not mean an end to the horrors of terrorism.
After a solemn speech by our President, I was treated to news footage of Americans dancing in the streets of Washington DC to chants of "USA, USA". I have heard calls for friends to join in a "dead Osama" party. I almost expect to see the foam fingers brought out. There are reports of "jubilation" in the DC crowds - really, jubilation?
I cannot call this "justice". I cannot see this as "closure". Justice would be Bin Laden tried before a jury on 3000 counts of murder. Justice would be a detailing of the depth of the depravity carried out against the American people and peoples all over the world at his command. Closure would be our ability to safely and with confidence declare an end to what I hope does not turn out to be a never ending "war on terror".
As we go through our days and nights moving forward, may we all remember that war is not a football game. This news should not be a call for a Fourth-of-July-type celebration. Rather, today marks a day when America executed a killer. I don't harbor "joy" at that, I harbor sorrow.
I am sorrowed that there was a need to "hunt" for this killer in the first place. I sorrow in remembrance of those who died in the planes and on the ground in New York and Washington. I sorrow for the hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties who, caught in the crossfire, met their deaths in the "war on terror". I sorrow for the brave women and men, and their families, who have stepped to the front and borne the brunt of the prosecution of this war in defense of our freedoms. I sorrow for those many freedoms lost or abridged in its prosecution as well. And I sorrow too that the death of Osama Bin Laden will not mean an end to the horrors of terrorism.