The Killing of Osama Bin Laden - May 2, 2011

On May 2, 2011, Osama Bin Laden was killed by a small US Navel SEALs team (an elite group) in Pakistan.  After 9 years, this evil mastermind behind the Sept 11, 01 attacks was killed.  But, even as the news flashed accross my screen that he was dead, I didn't feel anything.  Just numbness and amazement. 

September 11, 2001 is still very vivid in my mind.  To be a witness to such terrorism was horrific, numbing and unbelievable.  Even then, I felt very "indifferent"....not knowing what to really feel, or what course of action should be really taken.  The loss of that many lives was very heavy on me and yes, I did think, "We need to get them back....we need to go to WAR" .  As much as I am glad that justice has been served, I still can't help to think "Does it make it right to have taken Osama's life?  Those 3000+ people who died aren't coming back.  Hate + hate does not = "right"......many people in believe the quote: "eye for a eye".....As I watched the news last night and this morning, I watched American people rejoice in the knowledge of Osama's death.  "How can they celebrate?" "Don't they realize that this isn't the end?" Those were the thoughts that crossed my mind a few times....Retaliation is inevitable.  That's my concern now, we may have killed the most wanted man in the world, but there are still others out there that will take his place and continue to push forth what he was trying to do....."Kill the infidels and all Westerns..."  Is America safe?  No, I don't think so. And I don't think we ever will be. 

Many families and loved ones experienced a huge loss from the Sept 11 attacks and the raw pain of that loss is unexplainable.  I was able to see ground Zero for myself, and there was such a rush of emotions and heart gripping pain flooded my body.  Even though I am from the West Coast, I still felt the pain of those lives lost as if I was from the East Coast.  For 3 yrs, I was a "East Coaster".....One memory I will never able to erase, was a woman who was standing alone, weeping in her hands as we drove down Chanel street.  I don't know if she lost someone or just the magnitude of what happened overwhelmed her, but watching her, my own eyes filled with tears and a knot swelled up in my throat.  I was never, ever the same after that.

But, I still ask "Was it right for us to take Osama's life to justify the 3000 deaths he caused?"  Such a heavy question for such a conflicting situation......I have such mixed emotions about the whole thing.  I can truly say that I am glad the justice has been served, but not at the expense of taking another life.  Even Osama's.......