Ambivalent.

[matt_doyle]

Removing Osama bin Laden as a threat was a worthy goal, a necessary task, and I am glad that we accomplished it.  I am relieved that it is done.  I am not displeased at the fact of his death.

I am uneasy at the celebration of it. 

On the one hand, I am delighted to join in the celebration of the good things his death could represent:  greater security and progress in the battle against terrorism, closure for 9/11 survivors and families of 9/11 victims, etc. etc. 

On the other, expressing joy, congratulations, and so on for the death itself...   Yes, I feel the world is better without Osama in it.  But I also believe in the intrinsic value of every human life, in due process and the rule of law, and there just seems to me to be something tawdry and undignified in all of this.  Is this really where we as a people have come to?  Is this really what it takes for us to be (momentarily) united in happiness?

A friend of mine who is a pastor quoted a Talmudic story about Pharoah earlier.

“When the Egyptian armies were drowning in the sea, the Heavenly Hosts broke out in songs of jubilation. God silenced them and said, ‘My creatures are perishing, and you sing praises?"

I just don't know.

Comments

[necromommycon]

I'm right there with you. I can't exactly *regret* his death, but dancing in the streets about it feels wrong also. It was sort of like shooting a rabid dog: necessary, and probably right, but still somehow sad.

[matt_doyle]

Exactly. I certainly do not mourn his loss, and I am satisfied to hear he is gone, but the level of celebration just seems... I don't know. Is it too much to call it an affront to human dignity?

[stoneself]

i've been having much the same problem with the celebrations. it's good the head of the snake is gone, but i find celebrating death really disgusting.

the whole celebrate the death of bad people is writ into the usa culture/unconscious via "ding dong the witch is dead" ala wizard of oz. we teach it to children early.

[matt_doyle]

Yeah. Over on LJ, a friend was expressing similar thoughts about our cultural programming in that respect, and I am just.... thankful to have been raised by hippies, I guess.

[mswyrr]

Funny you should say that, because that line kept playing in my head, even though I didn't feel celebratory. Cultural programming is something else, man! lol

[mswyrr]

here via a link

The more I hear about the celebrations the more glad I am that it's midterms and I haven't had the chance to watch TV/news in the past two days.

A friend of mine who is a pastor quoted a Talmudic story about Pharoah earlier.

“When the Egyptian armies were drowning in the sea, the Heavenly Hosts broke out in songs of jubilation. God silenced them and said, ‘My creatures are perishing, and you sing praises?"

That is really perfect.

[matt_doyle]

Thank you.