Above is a link to a video of students celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden at Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA). Now, don't get me wrong, I hate bin Laden as much as the next American, but aren't we going a little too far in the way we are celebrating a fellow human being's death? Sure, it's great that we "eliminated" the leader of the most dangerous terrorist group in the world, but I think we are going a bit overboard with our celebrations. When federal prisons across the nation routinely execute death row inmates, college campuses all over the nation do not celebrate. There are some sick, sick people who are lethally injected with potassium choloride and nobody celebrates their deaths. Did Penn State go out and rally when Jeffrey Dahmer or Gary Gilmore was executed? I doubt it. I clearly recognize that bin Laden is a symbol of cruelty to all Americans, and I actually realize that comparing his death to that of Dahmer's or Gilmore's is a bit absurd, but I just wanted to open for discussion how much we really should celebrate the death of this man. He is still a human being, born from parents just like us, married to a woman (or in his case, women), and father of children. I think it's disrespectful to parade around and celebrate that we just shot a man in the head and ended his life. It's wonderful that bin Laden is dead, but I wish our society could have just listened to Obama's address, said a quick "thank god" or "it's about time," and went on with their lives. It's not necessary to riot in the streets and show the world how giddy we are about bin Laden's demise; as I'm sure al-Qaeda members have seen the footage and would love to seek revenge on Americans for not only killing their beloved leader, but brazenly celebrating his murder in the streets of our cities.
This is definitely something that im a little torn about. Yes I can say I was happy when I heard the news but after about the first hour of seeing people rioting and singing about it I started feeling a little put off by it all. Yes he was a terrible man but it feels wrong to rejoice over someones death. Im not saying we should mourn the guy, but the excessive jubilation makes our country look petty. I agree that we should be happy but then get back to real life because this war is not over.
ReplyDeleteHe has murdered and tortured thousands of people. He is an enemy of peace, freedom, and happiness. I personally would have preferred that he were captured alive and tortured so we could celebrate his slow and agonizing death, but I guess we'll have to settle for a bullet to the head. Think about the innocent Americans working in the twin towers being burned alive, suffocated, and crushed; think about their sons, daughters, wives, husbands, and parents: maybe then you'll celebrate.
ReplyDeleteThe violent death of a human is never justification for public celebration. People did not rush into the streets upon the capture and subsequent executions of mass murderers such as Timothy McVeigh. And let's take a step back for a minute and remember how many innocent people have fallen victim during this "War on Terror". Entire villages, cities, and towns throughout the Middle East have been uprooted and devastated as a result of our missions abroad. Maybe my point of view is skewed because no one I knew lost their lives in the attacks, but we aren't the only victims of the 9/11 attack and terrorism is not over because we killed one man. Times like these should be spent in reflection rather than revelry. I reserve my celebration for when I no longer have to check my local news on a daily basis to make sure none of my childhood friends have lost their lives in the Middle East as a result of a seemingly unending war.
ReplyDelete"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King Jr
ReplyDeleteThis is the only post on my Facebook newsfeed of this nature. I liked it.
Although the above quote is not entirely by MLK (the first sentence is actually added by the original poster who wrote this), the viral nature of this short paragraph regarding the recent killing of bin Laden is interesting. Many who felt that the celebration of the unarmed death of the terrorist was not a celebratory period in time have shared this link on several social media outlets as a way of expressing their views of the execution. Further proof that America still seems quite divided on the appropriate response to the death of one human.
ReplyDeleteWhy are we celebrating death? It's disgusting to me that we celebrate it for the wrong reasons. I'm okay with you celebrating because you're happy this was a significant win for the war on terror or because you believe this is honoring those who died in 9-11. However, obnoxiously celebrating in the streets because you've enacted justice is not the answer. Let me give it to you straight: there's no such thing as true justice in our world. True justice would mean to go through the exact amount of pain and suffering that one has caused on other people. Also, who are we to say that we're really better than other people? Osama was a horrible man who funded terrorism. But, that could've been any one of us. What if we grew up in an extremist Islamic environment with the same influences and same factors. We could have done the exact same things.
ReplyDeleteWhy are we celebrating death? It's disgusting to me that we celebrate it for the wrong reasons. I'm okay with you celebrating because you're happy this was a significant win for the war on terror or because you believe this is honoring those who died in 9-11. However, obnoxiously celebrating in the streets because you've enacted justice is not the answer. Let me give it to you straight: there's no such thing as true justice in our world. True justice would mean to go through the exact amount of pain and suffering that one has caused on other people. Also, who are we to say that we're really better than other people? Osama was a horrible man who funded terrorism. But, that could've been any one of us. What if we grew up in an extremist Islamic environment with the same influences and same factors. We could have done the exact same things.
ReplyDelete