It’s a function of bad Hollywood writing that there’s always a happy ending. You’ll see a hero lose his wife, his daughter, his friends, his fortune, his job, his dog…everything he holds dear, all at the hands of a villain. Then at the end of the film, the hero will take revenge by killing the person who’s taken his everything and we’re supposed to assume that all’s well that ends well. Of course, his life is still in ruins and his happiness can never be reclaimed.
Tonight, millions of Americans are pumping the fist. The great villain of the century is dead, allegedly at American hands. For many, this is a moment of great closure, an opportunity to move on and for those people I’m incredibly happy if only for the ability to turn the page. I’m feeling and supporting their joy, but from the outside looking in, I’m not so sure I’m experiencing it myself. For others, this is Justice played out, Bin Laden’s eyes given for ten-thousand eyes, but that trade still seems far from fair and as such gives me no pleasure.
Osama Bin Laden’s death doesn’t undo 9/11. It doesn’t undo the economic woes of the decade that followed. It doesn’t undo the entropy, the pain, the destruction or the memories that are bringing tears to my eyes as I write this. It doesn’t make right all of the wrongs or bring back lost loved ones. It doesn’t erase the ten years the man had to educate lieutenants, to prepare them to carry on his legacy. It barely puts a dent in the kind of terrorism that made Bin Laden a household name in the first place. We merely killed one man in an army, an army whose parts are all expendable and interchangeable.
I’m listening to people singing the US National anthem and God Bless America on CNN and watching the President smile as he delivers the news and I’m thinking about people celebrating more death. I think about the cultural differences that no one on either side seem to be trying to bridge when communication and understanding are the only things short of virtual genocide that will put an end to this struggle. Bin Laden’s people will mourn his loss, but they’ll also take joy in the place in heaven they believe he’s taken. I know how alien that must seem; we’re just as alien to them. Part of me can’t help but mourn at the fact that death is the perceived victory won as we ignore better communication and education, the only real wins.
America destroyed a symbol today, one so dark on this side of the Atlantic that it needed to be destroyed to make us feel safe. It just saddens me to see people take tremendous joy when everything taken is still gone. This is our closure and deserves a massive exhalation, but it’s not our happy ending. That would require that a decade of death, intolerance and destruction be undone. That only happens in Hollywood though.
As a student of international relations, I also reacted with contemplation rather than elation. I wondered how much this puts us ahead and whether any structural change in the war against terror has happened. But when I heard about the crowds outside the white house, and how much Osama Bin Laden signifies to regular Americans, and how much everyone appreciates closure I felt hopeful. I’m really glad that Americans have something to come together and celebrate. I’m glad Americans feel effective and invested in our international operations. The hope and the efficacy is so conducive to progress. And I hope our citizenry maintains a little bit the present international perspective.
Very nicely said. You’re right about the potentially uplifting effect of all this. thanks for sharing your thought.
Your right Gary, I don’t agree with some of your points. I wish Bin Laden had been captured rather than killed, but killed is better than escaped.
I disagree that we killed ” one man in an army, an army whose parts are all expendable and interchangeable.”
Bin Laden was a focal point of both money and fervor for the Jihad! He was far from an interchangeable part. I don’t think his death will be a big step in ending global terrorism, but it is a step none the less.
I particularly disagree with your premise that “I think about the cultural differences that no one on either side seem to be trying to bridge when communication and understanding are the only things short of virtual genocide that will put an end to this struggle”.
Many many people are trying to bridge the gulf between Islam and other religons. The Jihadists doesn’t represent and loathes moderate Islam as much (maybe more) as they loathe The West. All of the communication and understanding and singing (Whatever the Islamic version ) of Cumbaya IS NOT GOING TO HELP!
I agree Bin Ladens death is not worth celebrating other than reflecting on the deaths he caused on 9/11 and the pain it brought to thier families. BUT, his death is a good thing and a step, albiet a small one in the fight against Islamic Jihad!
Patrick
The Jihadist couldn’t be persuaded to lift the Jihad by Allah himself. All the peace love and charity that can be found in the Koran are shunned by the Jihadists. They take a few lines out of the whole book to base thier hate on. Killing the infidels (i.e. everyone who doesn’t follow thier hard line on Sharia Law) is all they care about. Communication and understanding is not going to bridge that gap because the Jihadists have only a single minded fixation on bringing thier brand of Sharia.
Bin Laden wasn’t merely a “symbol”. He organized and financed a global terrorist movement (note how he had hundreds of millions of dollars of family money to finance his operations). Taking out Bin Laden actually matters in very real terms.
The death of osama, while significant in the general sense, is not in the larger picture. In ten years, he had amass an army bent on destruction on the fundamental sentences in the Koran. Mislead by the false prophet, more naive Muslim fall under his spell and misinterpret the Koran. Thus transforming his leadership role from a physical leader into a spiritual one; one that would prove hard to be killed off.
Just like killing Jesus Christ did not end christianity, killing Osama would just be a small battle won with the war still at large. Still, it is understandable upon the elation of his death, I feel the public should use this moment to commemorate the souls that was lost back in 9/11.
Regarding the war on terror, the death of Osama might well trigger outrage in the other side of the world, and I’m sure they are as angry as the Americans when 9/11 took place. Would this spark a higher frequency of terror attack? This is hardly the end of the war on terror. Afterall, the disappearance of the fever does not denote the end of an infection.
Interesting comments Gary and spot on with many of them. Spending trillions to capture a man just didn’t seem like a very smart way to fight terrorism. And yes, killing him doesn’t take away 9/11 or end terrorism (As CNN so naively said)
But….killing him was important to the United States. Landing on the moon before the Soviets was important. The Miracle on Ice back in 1980 was important. These are symbolic moments in our countries history that made Americans proud just as today’s does.
The economic woes of the past 4-5 years can hardly be blamed on 9/11 so I’m not sure what the meaning was behind that statement.
All in all, a good day to be American. I do hope we don’t naively think we’ve won the war. A war against terrorism isn’t something you can “win” ….when we realize that, we’ll be one step ahead of our enemies.
“The end to the war on terror” does not equal an end to terrorism. CNN was refering specifically to “The war on Terror” i.e. American involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq, et. al.
Would the death of Bin Laden have an effect on “The war on Terror”‘ Would America be more likely to bring the troops home because Bin Laden was killed. Of course killing Bin Laden in the short run will cause an upsurge in terrorist attacks. Even if some of those attacks will be nothing more than acts of wanna bes trying to portray themselves as some how significant and some how attached to Al Qaeda Jihadists.
At least the American people now have something new and weirdly hopeful to hold onto and celebrate. While the taking of a life can’t be a good thing, if it brings closure to so many personally affected, then it is good. I always love and admire your eloquence… and for the most part agree with your thoughts. Maybe this will return us to the kinder and gentler people the masses became right after 9/11. I wonder if it’s possible to go back to that “neighborly” feeling.
I don’t celebrate more death. I celebrate the people who may be spared now that he is no longer in power. I do not naively believe this is the end of terrorism. When becoming a member of Al-Qaeda, the member swears a personal oath to Osama bin Laden, not Al-Qaeda. It does make a difference that the person to whom they swore an oath no longer exists.
Also, it is not just Americans rejoicing. Kenya is quite happy as well. He organized a bombing of their country as well. He was not just an enemy of one country, he terrorized many.
No, it is not the end of the war on terror. But it is a victory. He was a uniquely brilliant and charismatic man. His shoes will not be easily filled. I’m not going to say my God is better than his God. But I am going to say I think both of our children (both mine and his) should live to figure out which God is their God. There is a better chance of that happening now.
Hi Gary, as I said on Twitter last night after reading your post: it’s like litigation – a legal fiction, suing to “be made whole.” Even after the judgment, no one’s ever “whole” again…
OBL’s death changes nothing save the landscape of the battle that will surely continue to the dying days of this world as we know it.
Not trying to be a Dbag but there feels like there is something fishy going on. No photo released yet, press release hours after death…DNA testing takes awhile, Body buried at sea and Compond set on fire (bulldozed same day?)
I think Osama being annouced dead is a good thing, it may have been better if he was caught and went through the proper process but I feel like justice has been served.
Was he killed years ago..or kept in the Pakistan compond, it sounds more like a jail than a mansion…