Sunday, May 15, 2011

In response to Griffin's question

Q: Is it alright to celebrate the death of an enemy?

Griffin's question, I think, is a difficult one to answer. When the news broke of Osama Bin Laden's assassination at the hands of US Navy Seals, it was met in America with cheers and sighs of relief. For almost ten years, Americans lived in fear of Bin Laden and the Taliban. Now, his death has brought an end to an era which began with the horrible attacks that occurred on 9/11/01. I think it is only natural for Americans to want to celebrate this small victory over terrorism. However, the celebration should not overshadow the reality of America's situation; there are still US forces both in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just because Osama Bin Laden is dead, it does not mean that Al Queda and the Taliban are gone forever.

On a more general basis, the death of anyone, good or evil, should probably not be met with celebration. The loss of life, whether good or bad, needs to be first met with acceptance then with either relief or sadness. In terms of an enemy, the celebration of their death just brings more importance to their life. Giving too much attention to their passing ensures that their legacy will live on. I believe it is better to let the enemy pass in relative silence, in order for the rest of the world to move on without remaining in the past.

Q: Do you think there will be repercussions for Bin Laden's death?

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