The news yesterday
Two posts in two days.... almost like the blog of old :-)
I was somewhat distracted by the news yesterday. First I knew of it was peoples Facebook status when I was on the computer. Osama Bin Laden dead. There was already a gag up there. "I was amazed to here Bin Laden has been taken out, on a Bank Holiday - they never sort the Bins out around here on a Bank Holiday". Ho Ho... or not. Also in my area now they do collect the bins on a Bank Holiday but that isn't important.
What is then?
My reaction to this news. Confusion. A mix of regret, sadness, anger and concern.
I was in New York on 9/11. Luckily not right in down town near the Twin Towers but close enough. I watched the smoke, I saw the first tower fall, I saw the panic, a smelt and tasted the most awful acrid smoke and dust you can ever imagine.
However somehow I feel no anger or resentment anymore to those that did this act. They were wrong but clearly they were thinking it was right, they did what they did. The USA and their allies reaction has been a war in Iraq and Afganistan that have cost far more lives than the 2,977 that were lost on that day.
To see people cheering and celebrating like at a football game just seemed wrong to me. He was just one man, a man probably no longer in charge of that organisation, well it is more a philosophy and a franchise than a structured organisation anyway.
It goes on - he gets killed and some celebrate and there are lurid tabloid headlines. More disaffected youths get radicalised as they see this as an injustice and on it goes. How will it stop? I certainly don't know but I'm not sure the news of yesterday is in anyway a significant step on that. It maybe for the healing of the USA who had never experienced attacks like that before on their soil but there will be more I'm afraid.
One thing I do believe - in the next few weeks and months I don't see the threat of attacks against the West diminishing, if anything I would reckon on a heightened risk level.
I was somewhat distracted by the news yesterday. First I knew of it was peoples Facebook status when I was on the computer. Osama Bin Laden dead. There was already a gag up there. "I was amazed to here Bin Laden has been taken out, on a Bank Holiday - they never sort the Bins out around here on a Bank Holiday". Ho Ho... or not. Also in my area now they do collect the bins on a Bank Holiday but that isn't important.
What is then?
My reaction to this news. Confusion. A mix of regret, sadness, anger and concern.
I was in New York on 9/11. Luckily not right in down town near the Twin Towers but close enough. I watched the smoke, I saw the first tower fall, I saw the panic, a smelt and tasted the most awful acrid smoke and dust you can ever imagine.
However somehow I feel no anger or resentment anymore to those that did this act. They were wrong but clearly they were thinking it was right, they did what they did. The USA and their allies reaction has been a war in Iraq and Afganistan that have cost far more lives than the 2,977 that were lost on that day.
To see people cheering and celebrating like at a football game just seemed wrong to me. He was just one man, a man probably no longer in charge of that organisation, well it is more a philosophy and a franchise than a structured organisation anyway.
It goes on - he gets killed and some celebrate and there are lurid tabloid headlines. More disaffected youths get radicalised as they see this as an injustice and on it goes. How will it stop? I certainly don't know but I'm not sure the news of yesterday is in anyway a significant step on that. It maybe for the healing of the USA who had never experienced attacks like that before on their soil but there will be more I'm afraid.
One thing I do believe - in the next few weeks and months I don't see the threat of attacks against the West diminishing, if anything I would reckon on a heightened risk level.
I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteTo me, all of the celebrating seemed wrong.
I do understand why people are relieved that he is dead. For many it will bring a sense of closure I suppose.
For me, I find it hard to celebrate the loss of human life-even if that person is horrible.
I'm finding it hard to express what I'm trying to say here because I don't want to minimize the loss of those that have died because of him or his beliefs (that the west is evil).
I think you're right. Bin Laden hasn't really been the head of it for a long time now. There was someone else doing most of the work and easily stepped into his shoes. It's far from over.
((Hugs))
Laura
Actually, I found a quote that says (much better) pretty much what I was trying to get out in my previous comment...
ReplyDeleteI mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, 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.
Martin Luther King Jr.
That quote sums it up nicely thanks...
ReplyDeleteYou can always rely on a quality quote from him can't you.
OMG I love that quote....
ReplyDeleteMy people cheering in the streets are no better than the flag burner extremist in another country.
I'm at a loss. Glad he's gone but with mixed emotions.
the people cheering in the streets? pitiful. is it worse than showing the beheading of a reporter on live t.v. probably not, depending on your perspective. I personally think that it will cause more harm than good, but what do i know?
ReplyDeleteThey collect bins on a bank holiday? Wow!
ReplyDeleteWith you on the Bin Laden celebrations. Have you seen the Martin Luther King quote doing the rounds on facebook? Very apt.