Bin Laden

[insidevoice]

President Obama is about to make a statement, but major news outlets are reporting that Osama Bin Laden is dead. 

[mama2landon]

 They're also reporting that his body is in U.S. custody, which is fantastic news as well!

[lookatreestar]

does this mean that someone else is the "head" now?

[insidevoice]

I wonder how much he's been able to do over the past few years given how ill he was.  Certainly, other people will be capable of continuing on his efforts.  

I realize that he was not a good person, yet I have a hard time celebrating anyone's death. 

I do hope that in the long run, this brings greater peace, but I wonder what the backlash will be. 

[eclipse]

I can't get behind cheering on anyone's death, especially since i doubt this will do anything but invigorate the terrorist movement and stoke anti-American sentiments in nations that already have problems with us. I felt the same way when Saddam was executed.

[love4bob]

Originally Posted by insidevoice 

I wonder how much he's been able to do over the past few years given how ill he was.  Certainly, other people will be capable of continuing on his efforts.  

I realize that he was not a good person, yet I have a hard time celebrating anyone's death. 

I do hope that in the long run, this brings greater peace, but I wonder what the backlash will be. 

He was much more than just "not a good person". I am happy he is finally dead, so at least all our efforts were not completely for naught! 

I do agree that it will bring backlash.... EVERYTHING we do over there has backlash. My husband is currently in Iraq, so I am just praying he is safe.... 

[mama_y_sol]

wow, this is shocking news to me. 

Edited by mama_y_sol - 5/21/11 at 1:08pm

[Dmitrizmom]

I am keeping our soldiers in my thoughts as we move forward from this event.  I can only hope that moving forward we will be able to avoid further attacks by jihadis.

[insidevoice]

Cheering outside the White House following a bawdy rendition of the national anthem... I find myself wondering what the difference is between 'us' and them' when what we all seek seems to be bloodshed, torture, and death. Aren't we supposed to move beyond that at some point?

[jimblejamble]

Originally Posted by mama_y_sol 

wow, this is shocking news to me.  it's such a weird feeling- celebrating a death.  My family was directly affected by a terrorist attack he planned, so I'm just really emotional.  

:

[happysmileylady]

Originally Posted by insidevoice 

Cheering outside the White House following a bawdy rendition of the national anthem... I find myself wondering what the difference is between 'us' and them' when what we all seek seems to be bloodshed, torture, and death. Aren't we supposed to move beyond that at some point?

The difference is that Americans are cheering the justice of the punishment of one horrific criminal.  "They" were cheering the deaths of thousands of innocent people.

[treeoflife3]

I really do hope the backlash from his supporters isn't worse than he was himself.  My husband is in Afghanistan near the border of Pakistan too so yeah.

[jimblejamble]

I really don't feel bad for being happy that he's dead, knowing that because of him, children are motherless or fatherless, men and women are widows/widowers, people are missing their brothers, sisters, best friends, and teachers, knowing that a classmate of mine is still alive only because his flight to NY to visit the World Trade Center with his dad was cancelled.

[love4bob]

Originally Posted by JessicaRenee 

I really don't feel bad for being happy that he's dead, knowing that because of him, children are motherless or fatherless, men and women are widows/widowers, people are missing their brothers, sisters, best friends, and teachers, knowing that a classmate of mine is still alive only because his flight to NY to visit the World Trade Center with his dad was cancelled.

And to add to that the thousands and thousands of military troops(from all over the world!) who have died because of what he did. Although it isn't over, and I am positive that the violence will get worse, I am happy to know that he did NOT get away with it.

[happysmileylady]

Decisions of justice should never be made based on fears of what might happen as a result of justice.

[treeoflife3]

Originally Posted by happysmileylady 

Decisions of justice should never be made based on fears of what might happen as a result of justice.

I apologize that the fear for my husband's life possibly being at greater risk now out weighs my happiness that justice has been reached.  However, I have a 2 year old who calls out to daddy every single day and then says sadly that he is 'bye bye.'  I won't feel the joy of justice until she is safely in his arms again and unfortunately, that is still a long way off as we've only just reached about halfway recently.

[happysmileylady]

Fear for the lives and safety of our troops both in the personal and general sense is totally justified, don't get me wrong.  I myself am VERY grateful that my DH left the military when he was able, shortly after 9/11.  I absolutely feel for those who are in the position you are in.

I was simply pointing out that retaliation is always a risk in situations like this and that fear of retaliation cannot be a factor in deciding to carry out these types of actions.

The 9/11 attacks were offensive in nature, not in retaliation to any specific action the US took.  Retaliation is far from the only or biggest reason that the lives of our military men and women, even our every day citizens, are in danger.

[treeoflife3]

Of course it shouldn't be a factor.  I never said this shouldn't have happened or that I am unhappy it happened right now.  I don't think the feelings I expressed imply that at all.

[happysmileylady]

I apologize that I have offended.  That's not my intent and I fully support our military and am grateful that they are willing to risk their lives.

[mama2landon]

Originally Posted by happysmileylady 

The difference is that Americans are cheering the justice of the punishment of one horrific criminal.  "They" were cheering the deaths of thousands of innocent people.

This, exactly.  It's not his death per se that we are cheering, but the notion of justice.  I honestly wish he could have been captured alive and stood trial for his crimes, but in absence of that, yes- I am happy he's dead.  He was a brutal, evil monster who planned the deaths of thousands of innocent people.  He would have gladly seen millions more raped and murdered, simply because of their birth.  And yes, I do understand that the U.S. does not always have clean hands here, and that there is a lot of evil we have done in the past, and continue to do in the present. I would like to see all who commit such evils in this world come to justice, no matter where they're from, what they believe, or what country or cause they commit their atrocities in the name of.