An Eye for An Eye. Right?

Almost anyone old enough to remember September 11, 2001 can probably tell you where they were when it happened, what they were doing, and how they felt. I would bet that almost 90% of otherwise emotionless people even shed a tear that day, or the days following the attacks on our country. I was in high school, 2nd period, glued to the television as the second plane struck the towers. I remember watching the smoke rise, the buildings crumble, and the people jump from various windows. It was devastating.

9/11 helped the United States gain a sense of unity and comradery. But when news reports showed videos and images of Iraqi's celebrating in the street by dancing, chanting, singing, and burning American flags, we became INFURIATED. We condemed the activity and we became blinded by anger and rage. It only fueled the fire to support our military flying over and bombing the entire country. Long after the attacks on 9/11, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African people all over the United States, citizen or not, suffered at the hands of our own anger and ignorance. The Muslim culture suddenly became the Devil's religion and anyone who practiced it were looked at like monsters.

On Sunday night, as President Obama announced to the world that an operation he authorized resulted in Osama Bin Laden's death, people poured into the streets all over the United States shouting and chanting in celebration. They participated in the same activity that was condemed by citizens of this country 10 years ago. Yes, we have a reason to feel some sort of relief and some sort of justice, but there is a time and a place for any celebration.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." -- Martin Luther King, Jr

Yes, this entry is plain. It contains no pictures and no videos. My word is enough. Celebrating his death is the same as celebrating his life. His pictures are all over the internet and newspapers, his video tapes are being replayed on the news, and reminders of 9/11 are on repeat more now than any anniversary since. All of which, in turn, are keeping Bin Laden's "legacy" of terror alive; essentially making a martyr out of him. So no, I won't celebrate his death and I won't celebrate his life. Call it what you want but this doesn't mean this world is safe. It doesn't mean our troops are coming home and it doesn't bring Al-Qaeda to their knees. This was just a small victory in a much larger war, so tell me now, what's the celebration for?

*~Writer's Ink~*

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