Special message on the death of Osama Bin Laden
In several facebook posts, I wrote, I joined my fellow Americans in the enjoyment of the death of the most infamous financier and proliferator of global terrorism. Here they are below:
I normally dont get excited over jingoism, but this man gave me nightmares for years. I still remember the rancid smell of lower Manhattan after the towers collapsed and almost being trampled by people running for their lives. This may not erase the violent images and the years of depression, but this at least gives me a sense of justice. And thats something that cant be taken away!
I normally dont enjoy the death of others, but I hope Osama Bin Laden is burning in the fiery depths of hell for the lives he ruined.
I had some time to think about it, and while I cannot chastise those who praised the death of this savage man (nor can I condemn the death of this savage man either), I cannot condone my actions in celebrating his death. The notion of revenge is not a means for comfort, but a narcotic emotion that damages the soul from within. I do feel with no regret that he did deserve to die in that manner, at the same time, we as a society have to understand that death is nothing to celebrate. Even though Osama Bin Laden will have to answer for his sins before the all mighty, we as humans need to learn from his sins and the sins of his followers and not follow in their actions of celebrating and perpetuating savagery. The negative energy we put out in the universe will only manifest in more negative energy, just as the negative energy he put into the universe came and harmed him and his family in the end.
Also, I do not criticize those who did celebrate his death. I understand the complexity of emotions, and we are all entitled to our own reactions.
-Alshawn Jabari Rushing
