May 2, 2011
9/11 Department
Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead!
Yes, the Wicked Witch is dead.
The world is certainly a better place without Osama Bin Laden in it.
I would have preferred that Bin Laden had been captured and put on trial, but I suppose he had no intention of allowing that to happen. A capture and trial would have highlighted the difference between vendetta and justice. It also would have softened the inevitable images of Americans celebrating.
I feel satisfaction, not joy, at Bin Laden's death. Crowds of Americans exalting in celebration over the death of an enemy is predictable, and even understandable, on some level. Despite this, all I can think of when seeing such displays is the footage of extremists around the world celebrating like fools the death of thousands on 9/11. I despised them for celebrating death.
It would have been nice to think that Americans were better than that, but I suppose a mob is a mob, no matter how enlightened the individuals.
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Update: Damn. Now I can't get that blasted song out of my head...
2 Comments
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I share your discomfort over the celebrations, no matter how relieved we may be that he is now dead. But I disagree that it would have been preferable to have taken him alive. Just think of all the hand-wringing that would have accompanied this. Just think of the security risks every time there was something in connection with his being brought to "justice." This is so much cleaner.
Yes, Jamison, it would have been difficult to put Bin Laden on trial. I believe that America can, and should do difficult things in the name of justice.
You are correct, though, that this is so very much cleaner. It will allow the event to pass more quickly out of the media, which is certainly a benefit. There is no one, simple, best answer.