On May 1, 2011, President Barack Obama officially announced to the American people that the pursuit of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had come to a close with success in hand.
In Abottadad, Pakistan with his family on the second and third floors of the compound where he was residing, U.S. forces stormed the area with assault helicopters ready to capture the world’s most dangerous, most elusive man. A 40-minute firefight ensued resulting in bin Laden’s death.
Obama described the moment as “the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.”
Yesterday, Americans united together in front of the White House singing The Star Spangled Banner. The tangible sigh of relief from many was felt as Twitter and Facebook exploded with elation and prideful thoughts.
However, a spokesman for the Vatican explained that a Christian “never rejoices” with the event of a man’s death. Even with Osama being responsible for the death of thousands of people, the Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, says that this moment calls for serious consideration of man’s responsiblity to God and furthering life in the event of peace and not out of hatred.
Celebrity Katy Perry tweeted, “I believe in justice… but don’t u think that an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind?” and also advocated world peace.
This is a controversial historical day. Am I relieved that the man who was responsible for the death of hundreds of Americans on fateful 9/11 is dead? Yes. Am I completely overjoyed and thrilled that he is dead? Ehh. I’d be just as happy if he had been captured instead of killed.
The terror that Americans as well as certain parts of the Middle East have undergone is certainly alleviated.
I’d say that anyone at this point would say that justice has been done. And that I can’t deny. BUT. There is always a but.
I believe in the widely tweeted and posted Martin Luther King Jr. quote, “I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.”
Osama bin Laden was an evil man. There is no doubt about that. However, if you get all religious, yes, he was a child of God. A very lost child of God, but a creation nonetheless. If you want to call this justice, go ahead. I like to think that this was just a part of a Master’s master plan.
