Celebrating Death

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In 2001 when protesters targeted US military and corporate targets in New York and Washington, D.C., US citizens were aghast and indignant to see footage of citizens of other nations in the streets, rallying and celebrating these vicious and criminal acts.

Indeed, the deaths of nearly 3,000 people are nothing for any person to celebrate.

Nor is the death of 1 person.

Even those I have little respect for, outright dislike, have deep world-view differences with, from personal to social relationships...not one of them would have their families, friends, supporters, citizens or press see me engaging in a macabre celebratory dance over their deaths.

As appalled as we all were at the burning of US flags and celebrations over the successful violent protest aimed at US interests and policies in 2001, there are as of today millions of citizens of the world equally appalled at footage of US citizens elated over the assassination of Osama Bin Laden.

Revenge is not justice. Justice would have been to capture OBL alive and bring him before either a domestic or international court of law, where evidence of his crimes could be presented to a jury, his guilt or innocence be established beyond a reasonable doubt, and sentenced to punishment beyond that.

I certainly have no lament for Osama Bin Laden's death. I possess zero support or love for the guy whatsoever. He was a religious zealot that employed the use of violence in his struggle to realize his world view. I condemn all acts of violence and terror, whether committed by religious fanatics of the Middle East, religious fanatics in the Midwestern United States, or by deadly bombs guided by immoral masters of war in the Pentagon or any other military source, foreign or domestic.

I am emotionally neutral in the event of Osama Bin Laden's death...to me it seems that, rather than justice being served, a vicious killer has merely been killed by another vicious killer...

To me, witnessing US citizens en masse going to the streets and engaging in the act of celebrating death is not only just one more embarrasing moment for the US, but further sets my view that huge factions of citizens in the United States aren't anything but a reflection in the mirror to those that were elated by the violent protests of 11 September, 2001, and exhibit just about the same degree of class.

-R51