Who knew the death of a mass murderer would cause so many Americans to be upset? Am I celebrating in the streets like an idiot? No. But I don't fault those people for a second to celebrate the end of the fear they have been feeling for the last 10 years. The fear that every day might be another plane in another building or a bus exploding in the streets of their city. That was Osama Bin Laden's legacy, that even though he wasn't there in our face, the fear was. That is exactly what terrorism is. Terrorism is making your target so afraid they will bow to whatever your wishes are. Some have argued that Osama Bin Laden aimed to turn us from some righteous saint into the enemy we hate. That by celebrating his death we are the mirror image of those fundamentalists celebrating the attacks on 9/11. This argument couldn't be more flawed.
To begin with, in Muslim nations around the world was an outcry against the murder of thousands of innocents on 9/11. There were leaders, both religious and political, in every major city giving their support to the United States and declaring how wrong those attacks were. There were fundamentalist Muslims hiding in the hinterlands celebrating the murder of thousands claiming it was but the first step against the decadent West. Did Muslims celebrate the death of American government employees or military personnel who were killed in terrorist attacks in foreign countries? Of course, and this is to be expected when the local national population of those countries views our presence as occupation. But 9/11 was not the death of military personnel occupying a foreign country. It was the deliberate murder of 2,977 people.
There seems to be this impression of the United States as being "above" the actions of other countries. As though the United States hasn't cut its own bloody path through history. American citizens have rejoiced the death of their enemies in the streets just as much as any other country. Osama Bin Laden didn't make us do that. He didn't have some master plan to make us this way, we have been this way for 235 years. Since when has the US been a country of reluctant violence? This is a country just as violent as any other. I would never say we have an "orgasmic euphoria" when it comes to violence however. Celebrating the death of a mass murder in the streets doesn't count as "orgasmic euphoria". In fact, I see it more as though they are celebrating their freedom from the fear inspired by his actions.
Terrorism is one of the most evil and awful actions in this world. An act inspired purely to terrify someone so you can get what you want. The goal isn't to inspire your enemy to love violence, in fact it is just the opposite. By my calculation Osama Bin Laden poked the wrong bear. He thought by attacking us on our own soil he was bringing the fight to us. He was right, he was just wrong about the outcome. Every terrorist thinks his actions will result in an unrelenting terror that forces the victims to do whatever he wants. Osama Bin Laden picked the wrong victim it seems. But his attacks came with a cost. People in this country did live with a constant fear since 9/11. With his death they finally have a day without looking over their shoulder. I don't think that its such a bad thing.
To begin with, in Muslim nations around the world was an outcry against the murder of thousands of innocents on 9/11. There were leaders, both religious and political, in every major city giving their support to the United States and declaring how wrong those attacks were. There were fundamentalist Muslims hiding in the hinterlands celebrating the murder of thousands claiming it was but the first step against the decadent West. Did Muslims celebrate the death of American government employees or military personnel who were killed in terrorist attacks in foreign countries? Of course, and this is to be expected when the local national population of those countries views our presence as occupation. But 9/11 was not the death of military personnel occupying a foreign country. It was the deliberate murder of 2,977 people.
There seems to be this impression of the United States as being "above" the actions of other countries. As though the United States hasn't cut its own bloody path through history. American citizens have rejoiced the death of their enemies in the streets just as much as any other country. Osama Bin Laden didn't make us do that. He didn't have some master plan to make us this way, we have been this way for 235 years. Since when has the US been a country of reluctant violence? This is a country just as violent as any other. I would never say we have an "orgasmic euphoria" when it comes to violence however. Celebrating the death of a mass murder in the streets doesn't count as "orgasmic euphoria". In fact, I see it more as though they are celebrating their freedom from the fear inspired by his actions.
Terrorism is one of the most evil and awful actions in this world. An act inspired purely to terrify someone so you can get what you want. The goal isn't to inspire your enemy to love violence, in fact it is just the opposite. By my calculation Osama Bin Laden poked the wrong bear. He thought by attacking us on our own soil he was bringing the fight to us. He was right, he was just wrong about the outcome. Every terrorist thinks his actions will result in an unrelenting terror that forces the victims to do whatever he wants. Osama Bin Laden picked the wrong victim it seems. But his attacks came with a cost. People in this country did live with a constant fear since 9/11. With his death they finally have a day without looking over their shoulder. I don't think that its such a bad thing.
When you are back next. Im going to pick your brain and we can converse over some whiskey.
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