My television show Sunday evening was interrupted with the news of Bin-Laden’s death. I sat there stunned and just tried to take in the meaning of what I had just heard. In fact, it has taken me two days to process the contents of that news break and all the subsequent ones that followed. Nothing could feel more right than the capture and death of one who wreaked such tragedy on 3000 families and our country as a whole. In the war against terrorism, this is indeed a major victory. Even though the war is not won, and still rages on, ensuring that the mastermind of 9/11 cannot plot to hurt anymore people on this Earth is a great, but solemn comfort.
If I were the one who had gotten to pull the final trigger, I’d just feel such sadness and disgust, throwing down the gun and turning away from what I’m sure would be a most hideous sight on the ground before me. It’s called “doing what had to be done” and I certainly see how it took such a highly trained unit of Navy Seals to accomplish it.
For me, it was hardly a time to party and celebrate, and I was a bit put off by all the rejoicing in the streets. It actually scared me a little because I never pictured that kind of street celebrating, over any kind death, happening in our country. It just reminded me of the kind of rejoicing that went on in the middle east countries during 9/11. Have we here in America come to that? To me it was a kind of closure for such a sad act committed on our homeland ten years ago. Much like parents finding the body of their murdered child and seeing the tormenter caught and punished. While feeling vindicated, and knowing justice had been served, as that parent, I wouldn’t feel like partying and rejoicing.
I was so bothered by the cheering for death, especially a death that represented such widespread grief, that I could not express my views until now. For me, it’s just not a happy time and I hope when the President visits Ground Zero tomorrow, it’ll be a time of reverence and respect for what this represents, more in keeping with what I think America is all about in trying to find peace in the midst of such profound tragedy.
And so, as another day goes by, I sit in quiet silence, feeling justice and vindication, but no joy, and….I have written.
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