I know this won’t make me the most popular kid in the class, but I am ashamed at the response to Osama bin Laden’s death. Human life is sacred and that’s why we feel so strongly that Osama bin Laden was wrong to do what he did. But we only show ourselves up as hypocrites of the worst kind when we start to make our own decisions about which lives are sacred and which ones are at our mercy. This eye-for-an-eye mindset is unfortunate in the extreme. I am not saying that Osama bin Laden should have been wrapped in hugs and set free. I am saying that when we kill another human being, we are not making the world a better place. And celebrating the death of another human being is, in my mind, a sickening sign that we have not learned anything in three thousand years of Judaism, two thousand years of Christianity, fourteen hundred years of Islam, and more than two hundred years of so-called “enlightenment”. My heart aches for all of us. When will we ever learn?
“Are we seeking power for power’s sake? Or are we seeking to make the world and our nation better places to live. If we seek the latter, violence can never provide the answer. The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, 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.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Source: A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Well said Shaney! Once again I am extremely proud to call you family!!
”… In the face of a man’s death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred.”
— Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesperson
Well said Shaney! I couldn’t agree more. I posted the comments of two former Presidents because I was so disgusted by those of George W. Bush and impressed by Bill Clinton. The idea that justice has been served because someone was hunted down and killed leaves me a similar feeling to yours, a deep sorrow for the human state.
I like this Shaney! Well, there is a bigger picture inside the small picture – it may sound ironic but that’s the way it is. There is definitely a meaning to see a man rejoicing over a loss of life.
This article sheds some light on the legality of what the US has done.
http://rjcurrie.typepad.com/international-and-transna/2011/05/the-bin-laden-execution.html
I think it would have been better to capture him and see what info he knows and let him suffer like the victims of 911 he would have no contact with his family while he rots in jail. I think it’s sad that he is not suffering anymore.
>When will we ever learn?
Jeez do me a favor ? If we all have this ‘let’s forget the past and start afresh’ attitude like yours then terrorists the world over would have it all their way. Maybe you’ve never been the victim of terrorism ? Always easy to make comments like yours in the relative safety of Ibaraki, Japan. Cease drinking the genki-drinks and come down from la-la land my friend. I guess Adolf Hitler should be a hero, hey and why not free Manson why we’re at it ?! Ironic that you quoted Martin Luther King Jr himself the victim of a violent death.
The mind boggles….
I don’t believe I said “forget the past and start afresh”. I think you should re-read the post as your comment has nothing to do with what I wrote.
I still believe,( although I admit that I know nothing else of Osama but the guy responsible for the deaths of many,) that this guy’s death has caused a light easing of the pains of those whose souls suffered because of the death of loved ones. If one can feel empathy towards the pain of Osama’s family, why can’t they feel the misery of the family of those he victimized?
I can feel empathy for both Osama’s family and the families of his victims. The point of my post above is that an “eye for an eye” is very primitive form of judgment and the fact that we are still using it in 2011 proves that the human race has not made as much progress towards being “civilised” as it pretends to have done.
Shaney, I remember reading this and thinking I couldn’t agree more! I have never been an advocate for the eye for an eye ways that many in this world believe. Like you I don’t think he should have been welcomed with open arms and while I am and was not particularly upset that he was dead…my actual response when I heard was more of a ‘huh…and this changes things how?’ I know that people say that this will now bring some justice to the victims to know he is dead, and I believe that some will probably even think that at first, but I think most will also concur that his death doesn’t change a thing, cuz seriously? If you think he is the only one behind all this and the only one that can lead these people to these kind of acts…you are crazy. There is always gonna be someone else crazier that people are willing to follow. Anyways, what I wanted to say was the rejoicing over his death sickened me. I have never been more glad that we do not have cable anymore and therefore while my kids learned about his death at school, they did not get to see all ‘antics per se’ on TV. What does that say about us that we basically throw a party over someone’s death. To me (Jerry) that’s what is mind boggling. What do you think all that rejoicing over a death teaches kids….they don’t understand half of what is going on in the adult world as it is (and don’t tell me yes they do, as I have kids and when it comes to this type of stuff…no…no they do not!). So what would that teach my kids to watch people behaving like that? That an eye for an eye is okay and guess what? when it’s done…let’s party! It was disgusting! I have read Jerry’s comments above three times and couldn’t help but think…huh did we read the same posting? And hello…are you kidding me with the comment about Martin Luther King? seriously? yes he was a victim of violent death but if that’s all that you think his life was about then you obviously missed his message and more obviously Shaney did not. Shaney your thoughts are well founded and I am proud of you for putting it out there as it isn’t a popular opinion at all…but I think more common then most would like to share!! I know we share it in this household. Again all my thoughts were of disgust over the way everyone reacted and of ‘well what now? what does this really change?’ Nothing at all that’s what…absolutely nothing.