I like what the Dalai Lama recently said about the killing of Osama bin Laden, "From a Buddhist perspective of your enemy being your greatest teacher, it was sad." But he also went on to say "Forgiveness doesn't mean forget what happened. If something is serious and it is necessary to take counter-measures, you have to take counter-measures."
While I can never forgive what bin Laden did, I definitely can not forget either. Am I sorry he’s dead? Absolutely not! The United States military was justified in taking his life. I don’t see his killing as an act of revenge, but more of an act of helping prevent future acts he could inspire others to do. If I could be transported back in time and given the opportunity to kill Hitler, knowing the great evil he would do in the world, would I do it? Absolutely!
The thing that’s bothered me about the whole issue is seeing the faces of people on TV, Americans, celebrating his death in the streets. Isn’t this what we condemned “less civilized” countries for doing right after 9/11 when we saw mobs of people in the Middle East, and elsewhere, pumping their fists in the air shouting "Death to America!"?
A subdued sense of justice and gratitude would have been a more appropriate reaction, as well as the right way to separate ourselves from bin Laden. It is bin Laden and his kind who celebrate death.
6 comments:
What's the difference?
one should never celebrate terrorist it makes them gods, they buried him at sea to avoid that but alas all this chatter about his death by the american will do exactly what you did not want to do. this should not have been a president speech at all. His comment should have been, yes my people told me and walked away.
the news should have been "osama killed, now to some local sport".
showing Al-Qaeda he has no value would have been a total kick in the nuts to them, but alas the american have just made him a marta.
GOOD JOB THERE CNN.
I’ve come to the conclusion that there are as many ways to feel about the demise of Bin Laden as there are people who’ve heard the news, so while it’s hard to argue with the D.L. I don’t think anyone’s statement can sum up a right or wrong way to respond to his death. That said, the killing of Bin Laden is a pivot point in our history and while I certainly hope that it leads to the eventual death of Al Queda, I also hope it deals a well deserved bruising body blow to the Republicans that will leave them holding their collective ribs for years to come.
my observation, the people doing the celebrating: young people.
why?
because their boogie man of ten years ago, when they were 9/20/22/23 years old is dead.
i would have done the same if krushchev had been killed, especially when he threatened to blow up my family from cuba.
having said all that, i wish i was a more evolved person sometimes, sorta like the DL for instance.
I've now read this post several times, and want to respond, though I'm still struggling with words.
I have been attacked by a number of people for saying that I don't believe it's appropriate to rejoice in anyone's death. I don't care if you're Mother Theresa or Adolph Hitler, it just seems wrong to me to rejoice in the end of a life. Bin Laden in GITMO I might have celebrated, but I fear that being so happy puts one on the same path as the terrorists.
(ducks in fear of rebuttal)
No need to duck here.
That's basically what I meant A. Am I glad these people are gone? Yes, but I'm not out in the streets celebrating death (that's what bin Laden & his followers would do). I am quietly thankful they cannot longer hurt others or incite others to hurt others. I think we're on the same page (?) Justice has been served.
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