Bin Leaded?

Well, it appears our super secret military intel budget money has been well spent, at least in one case. Osama Bin Laden has been killed. Although I realize he was a monster, at least from what I gather from people who pay attention to such things, it seems a little odd to celebrate murder quite so openly. I thought vengeance was supposed to belong to the Lord. Many, I'm sure, would argue that he has exacted vengeance for the crimes of terror done nearly 10 years ago. That may be right. I just don't know. What I do know is that we humans are a bloodthirsty, vindictive bunch. We'll go to great lengths to protect what is ours, up to and including releasing cartridges from firearms in the direction of those who would threaten our liberties, possessions or overall way of life. We parade our victories where thousands of faceless foes have been felled, complete with ticker tape and rousing renditions of patriotic fanfares.

I'm not a sympathizer of terrorist behavior. I'm not disconnected from what happened to the US on 9/11. I was there, watching the towers fall. I took phone calls from family members who couldn't find their husbands and fathers, people who worked in the 'there was no hope' zones at the top of the towers. I spent several nights preparing and delivery food for the rescue workers at ground zero. And yet, hearing this current news, I feel something of the same thing--a pit in my stomach maybe, wrapped up in so many things I don't understand and so many things that I at the same time loathe. In the end, I say celebrate America. Get what satisfaction or healing you can from this. My only fear is that Osama has people surrounding him that still exist who are as intent on avenging his death as we were our own citizens. That, I fear, could be the recipe for some unprecedented ugliness.

This has been brought to you rather soberly.