The death of Osama bin Laden certainly made a splash on the world stage. It's usually best to let big news ferment for a time to better capture its essence. Inevitably, more information becomes available that can add illumination or even shift some perceptions. But big events such as this exert a powerful gravitational pull almost too great to resist.
I noted with amusement the press statement gymnastics several Republicans went through during requisite commendations to President Obama. You could feel their pain at having to say "commend" and "President Obama" in the same sentence. Nearly all made sure to give George Bush equal billing with Obama. The Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned "the assassination and the killing of an Arab holy warrior. We ask God to offer him mercy with the true believers and the martyers".
I have little sympathy for bin Laden or any other "true believer" who dies violently after living violently. Surely the world is a little safer without a fanatic of his stature around to inspire the hordes of fanatics who share his warped visions of worldwide puritanical Islamic rule brought about through the killing of infidels who refuse to embrace Islam. Having said all that, the cheering, sign-carrying, flag-waving jubilation was a bit much. Not a good example for the young ones to show such righteous glee at death. That puts us much too close to the way the culture that produced bin Laden would react to the death of a perceived enemy. While it may be appropriate to express a somber satisfaction that he has been removed like the cancer on society he was, focusing on his role in bringing down the Twin Towers and killing some 3000 Americans reduces the joy at his death to merely getting even. The focus should be the damage done to global society from fundamentalism and fanaticism and how those ideas hurt us all so badly.
No comments:
Post a Comment