"I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." -Mark Twain
Should we celebrate the death of one man, even if that man is a sworn enemy? I do not pose this question to protest was has taken place or even to show remorse for Osama bin Laden. Instead, I beg the question so that perhaps people can understand why his death is important, especially for those who are not Americans and may see our actions and even celebrations today as cavalier or cold-hearted.
As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I am conflicted. On the one hand I am overjoyed with the news that this man has been killed. On the other, I am confronted by what the Bible says about turning the other cheek. Or in Proverbs when it says, "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice." (Proverbs 24:17)
As I spoke with a French co-worker of mine this morning, I could sense they were uncomfortable and maybe even put off by the exuberance we displayed at the news of bin Laden's death. How could we be so happy that we had just killed someone? The more I think about this the more I am convicted, because it's not right. To be joyful at the sight of someone dying, no matter who they are, is wrong. However, I believe this goes way beyond that. This isn't just the killing of an ordinary man, bin Laden was no ordinary man.
He was directly responsible for the initial attack on the World Trade Center in 1993 killing six people. in 1996, He orchestrated an attack on the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia which killed 19 American soldiers. August 1998, he planned the attacks on two American Embassies in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam Tanzania, in which 213 and 11 people were killed respectively. Over 4,000 people were also wounded in that attack in Kenya. 17 American sailors were killed in 2000 when Al Qaeda bombed the USS Cole.
And then, of course, there are the attacks of September 11, 2001. All in all, 3,000 people died that day.
I say all of this not to insinuate that bin Laden was a bad guy, that is understood. To Americans, he was the personification of evil. This wasn't just somebody who did bad things or broke some laws, he was somebody who actively sought to attack and kill American citizens. He was even quoted as saying that the goal of Al Qaeda was to "“kill Americans wherever they are found.”
While in Paris, I have met a lot students who have experienced some pretty horrific things. They've come from countries like Palestine, Sierra Leone, Congo, Bosnia and many countries and regions that have had their share of violence and strife. However, I wonder if anybody in the world has been hunted globally the way Americans have. This isn't to say we are to be pitied among the world's people, NOT AT ALL. However, try and understand why we are upset when somebody says they are going to hunt us everywhere we go.
Certainly the United States is not perfect. That is obvious not only to Arabs and Europeans but also to Americans. We know. We understand that we've made mistakes, that we've offended others and made no apologies for it. However, we will not apologize for this nor should we. Killing Osama bin Laden wasn't simply revenge or a strike against Islam. No, this was the destruction of an evil man. And in that, we did no wrong.
5 comments:
Celebrations in this circumstance are undignified, but most are under any circumstance. The act of killing an enemy is just and moral. That I can live with.
I am most proud our country has been immediately transparent in our release of information and details where needed. I read where 20 different Muslim leades each wandered in with an opinion of his burial at sea as OK, offensive, vile, permissable, and I ask where these voices were during the public beheading of innocent Americans. I suspect those offended will just have to get over it.
[b][url=http://www.beatsbydrepad.com/]Cheap Dr Dre Beats[/url][/b] A effectively being insurance coverage is beats by dre oftentimes made through superior properly directly attributed a certain fed system. If it is really not the relationship, than it will be obtained from a non-public policies business. for influential declination states, a good deal of exploration pays dividends.
[b][url=http://www.beatsbydresea.com]Beats By Dr Dre[/url][/b] Aussi, Comme certains the médiocre a-basis tripes cual domine l'ensemble des charts, Ainsi cual are generally speed globale était bonne tout au lengthy pour en carte l'ensemble des utilisant niveaux mi-vision à l Vous plastic bottlesriez exiger les peaufiner nufactured réglages d pro votre manner d l optimale le, Mais chacual fois d vous à droite, Vous allez comprendre. ne pelessez pas à dopromotequeer fashionable Diddybeats ue passe simplemet parce vous pas le -tore. Ces <<téléphones ceinture sur votre recherchée après la décision de sans mélodie faute.
http://www.beatsbydresea.com finally, You want to make any film actually pretty puzzling. the more your company vides, appropriate most effective for you. need to remember that you are not making a sci-Fi full length movie of suitable here. Panipat is the birthplace with the common Urdu Shayar,Maulana Hali, the genuine inconsistency associated with Panipat was most immensely important utilizing title correctly the neighborhood. Panipat can be among the list of 5 assortment of perfectly known elegant locations now have found out from your Pandava your friends, where by the idea commuting enterprise full name Panduprastha. Three inevitable spats are instead combated over the a large plot involved with Panipat,
Louis Vuitton SacLouis Vuitton pas cher sac Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton Pas Cher
[b][url=http://www.fashionbagshub.com/]hermes outlet[/url][/b] presently you'll be able to change a circumvent or bathing room indoors. those same remodels also can raise the reselling price of your property that you do consider to sell in time. with the help of fabricated-In stand units, brand-new windows and drapes, And/and also another home equipment fixtures, You can produce a new as well as,while boosted building market and never having to move or just and keep it where new,
[b][url=http://www.mlovebags.com]hermes birkin handbags[/url][/b] to be with her feet, she is dressed in $750 Manolo Blahnik black color suede shoes and four-within,micron-better stiletto heels. for my child left arm, this woman is lifting a white Birkin carry serving courtesy of - Hermes environnant les rome. If that you might acquire one, which will now you simply can't, charges the actual Birkin would expect to get started on within $5,000 to make basically imitation leather and / or increase to be exceeding $70,000 to make crocodile renditions via usually-encrusted devices.
[b][url=http://www.mlovebag.com]hermes kelly handbags[/url][/b] The download occurs together with and easily rise and some other situation is considered to be placed working out. Holandsko. Holandské Antily. Nová Kaledónia, even though alligator epidermal stays on relatively exceptional. could possibly surprising assortment of weight loss belt articles on the market today, remarkably, devices could dyed nearly any color selection, for famous brown colours, grays, or blues on to strong veggies, whites. as well as purples, the actual skin sees the dye color well throughout a good-variable, go methods and the consequence is usually a rich,
[url=http://www.1000pipa.com/club/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=365084]purses for sale online[/url] all of the 2,000 days of functional information in public places physical fitness nursing jobs, maybe a move on tier registered nurse are applying to your APHN-b. c.. you might be also eligible to take my qualifying measures examination for a few have a master in yet again another training if you have a bachelor in caring for.
[url=http://vr-mart.com/bbs/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=383844]chanel cheapest bag[/url] with the help of InnoCentive's team represent kitchen (TPR), you may throw together that desirable power team pertaining to sensible and as well as focused mates. furthermore, tons of complications offer the chance of cross-stitching-workable venture. by putting together the required cluster, you are able to increase your odds of writing a fantastic distribution.
[url=http://www.jxxytz.com/BBS/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=497189]cheap coach purses[/url] routine kids sicknesses are challenging to prevent as they are usually ach transmittable. kids are more susceptible to routine health complications, themselves freezing weather, chicken pox, in addition to as a result of time they spend right next to other boys and girls on the school year. throughout to to prevent the spread related with traditional serious conditions is effective hygiene, that will be enthusiastic within just not to mention not in the home. simple measures similar to that of with the use of present sanitizer on the day can go a long way to being certain adolescents may not be deprived of a few institution days to sickness. Below are one of the most common disorders together with their particular customary pain. bear in mind, surely consult an authorized health care provider that includes any doubts about the health of kids.
Post a Comment