You know, being an American, I have many times where I hang my head in shame at my fellow Americans. This is again one of those times.
If you haven't heard, (and if you haven't heard, you've probably been living under a rock... or possibly a fortified compound with no connection to the outside world...) they finally killed Osama Bin Laden.
This doesn't really bother me though, in fact... the guy deserved it, really. I don't have a problem with that. The thing I have a problem with is the reaction from the American people. Let me take the time to apologize to the rest of the world for our obnoxious, hypocritical behavior, because it doesn't seem like anyone else is going to do it.
What am I talking about? The celebrating. It's ridiculous, and I for one am appalled by it. Call me a sympathizer or anti-American or whatever buzzword garbage they spew from Fox News, but at least you can't call me a hypocrite. What am I talking about? Well, if you look back at the day the towers fell, the infamous event known as '9/11', the reaction from a certain part of the world will come across as disturbingly familiar. When it happened... the anti-American organizations of the world celebrated. There was dancing in the streets, singing, flag waving. All in celebration of people dying.
And now, we have another person dead, and what are we doing? We're dancing in the streets, singing and flag waving. Really, America? Is this what we stand for? If this is how people are going to respond to death, regardless of who's death it is... well, my hope for humanity is fading rapidly. I'm an American. I'm proud to be an American. I'm proud for what we stand for.
The problem is that people have lost sight of what we stand for. We stand for justice, peace, and equality for all mankind. We do not stand for revenge. A criminal was brought to justice... yes. That's a good thing. But a man also died. Actually, quite a few people died. Even if he deserved it, you shouldn't celebrate the killing of another person. It had to be done, I agree wholeheartedly and for the families directly effected by the 9/11 event, I'm glad there is finally some closure for them. But singing? Dancing?
We're better than this. This moment is a historic moment. But it is also a solemn one. A cycle of death leads to more death. The celebration should be for the end of that cycle, not the sight of more death.
As I said... I'm an American.
But before that I am a human. Humanity as a whole is better than this. One day, I hope the rest of them will see that.
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Very eloquently expressed, CT! I think many people share your feelings. Hatred only leads to more hatred, and killing to more killing. The last 10 years in pursuit of this man is proof of that. So many innocent lives lost and destroyed in the bargain.
ReplyDeletevery, very well put
ReplyDeletePreach it sister. I think that is wrong to celebrate as well. However, you have put this argument together far better than I have.
ReplyDeleteHomer quote into a 911 rant, well played.
ReplyDeleteAs far as awful Americans never forget those people we see on tv are exactly that, the people we see on the tv. Most people i have in my life aren't so extreme, we're glad that f'er is dead but i feel more relief for the victims family and friends who survived instead of wanting to go drink beers and do bong hits. i mean i want to do those things but not because bin laden's dead