As the news unfolded late on the evening of May 1st, people rallied together to celebrate the death of a barbarian, Osama Bin Laden. In some way does that make those of us who feel a sense of relief over his welcome demise similiarly cruel and brutal?
Death has never been something to celebrate, only to welcome with a heavy heart if it brings an end to the suffering of another individual. In some way, Bin Laden’s death allows for an element of closure to the families of those lost on September 11th, 2001; it does not bring back each person who was so brutally murdered by the radical Islamic terrorist.
Yet, at this moment, here in New York, people are gathered at Ground Zero, singing and cheering; cars can be seen driving along with American flags sticking out of their windows. A revitalized sense of patriotism has emerged but not without the wariness that still lingers over what might come next in the form of a retaliatory attack on United States soil.
My husband’s brother, a former government official, escaped two attacks on the World Trade Center, first in 1993 with the truck bombing and the second in 2001; the emotional scars as the twin towers were collapsing around him that horrific day will never disappear. I’m sure his outlook today is reserved yet thankful that some element of justice has been served but he, like most of us, is all too aware that millions of people will continue to live in times of great trepidation.
Today, we stop to remember those lost almost ten years ago; we offer prayers for them and their families. We pray for the future and for peace.
But..some celebrate….a death.
