People will say more, better, later, but right now I just have a huge HELL YES at this headline:
This is the first joyous death announcement I think I've had in my lifetime- it's like Hitler for my grandparents (interestingly, his death was also announced on a May 1st), but I love that I have this happy memory of where I was when I heard the news that Bin Laden had been killed by US forces to keep company with that horrible memory of exactly where I was when I learned of what was happening on 9/11.
There is spontaneous singing on the street in front of the White House and fireworks are going off in New York. I'm all choked up on my couch in Austin.
God Bless America.
And I learned it here
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Here's another perspective: http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/on-waking-up-to-todays-news.html
ReplyDeleteThere was a similar salon.com article this morning. I think it's an interesting, valid point, but I think I disagree at a fundamental level. I have absolutely no problem rejoicing in the death of a man who killed thousands. In my mind, there's something different between al qaeda fighters rejoicing in the death of an American because he was American and being happy at the death of the actual individual responsible for the 9/11 attacks. It could be a circular and self-serving distinction created in my own mind, but after reading this and other articles and examining my own thinking, I'm comfortable with being glad he's dead.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, LL. I don't see it as the same thing at all.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, I would be thrilled if the police were to catch a serial killer who had reigned terror in my country. If they killed him in the catching (as long as we knew he was the person we were after), I would find it hard to shed a tear. For the loss of that life? Not so much.
Not when with his own actions he has taken away his right to life. And my corresponding sadness at his loss of it.
justice will always be served at the end :)
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