Reflecting on the Death of a Terrorist

Did you hear the news? Osama bin Laden is dead.  The world rejoices.  Or do they?  Should they?

I'm kind of conflicted here. Sure, I'm glad he's not still out there, but the facts are that he is dead. Gunned down. Is that something to rejoice over? To take to the streets and whoop and holler for?  I'm not so sure.   Today on the Huffington Post Kristen Breitweiser, a widow who lost her husband in the 9/11 attacks, wrote, "Can it ever be a true victory when so many don't even seem to comprehend the magnitude of what has been lost along the way? Or even what the future might hold?" 

In the worlds of Martin Luther King, Jr., "Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."  It has been sent out on social media thanks to a 24-year-old English teacher in Japan, who included it in her Facebook status update with her own words, " I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy."  Well said, Jessica.

It is possible to take pride in our country, in our military, the Navy Seals who executed the mission and to applaud our President as he gave his address on Sunday night, but to do so with a reflective heart and an understanding that the war is not over.  There are still soldiers in the field carrying out their mission, and while this piece of the mission has been accomplished through death, let's not forget at what cost nor the work that remains.

 Today I am proud to be an American.