I had another post mostly written, all about royalty and riches, but when I came downstairs this morning, the headline on the TV was gleaming, “THE KILLING OF BIN LADEN,” and I realized…it can wait till tomorrow.
“Apparently they announced it at 10:30 last night,” Christian said.
I wandered over to the TV and watched for a minute. Christian went outside and picked up a paper, old-fashioned in the totality with which the front page focused on an enormous image of his face, the headline sixty-point: BIN LADEN DEAD!
There are probably many people rejoicing this morning, but I can’t. Glad that he’s no longer able to lead…yes. Glad that the head of al Qaeda is no longer head of al Qaeda…yes. But glad he’s dead? No.
When they executed Saddam Hussein, I couldn’t be glad about that, either.
I can find nothing but sadness in this situation. I know we live in a broken world, but it’s heartbreaking to realize that it’s so broken that faith can be twisted until a person believes he (or she) is justified, called even, to kill others. It’s heartbreaking to realize that the world is so broken that execution is the only (truly or perceived) viable option for dealing with a person such as bin Laden.
Is execution justified? Can it be justified? I don’t know. Is war ever justified? How would the world have been worse if the Allies hadn’t banded together against Hitler? What does God really think about these things?
I don’t know. All I know is that I can’t be happy that someone is dead by someone else’s hand.
Not even Osama bin Laden.
Kathleen M. Basi 
Heard the news last night but it didn’t cause me to jump for joy either… I think in light of the tornadoes in our area, this was just not all that exciting. Heck I wasn’t excited about the wedding and didn’t even watch JPII…I think I”m just wrapped up in my own pity party and want power so I can go home and help with the mess in my area
It does seem to be a convergence of a lot of “big news,” doesn’t it? I will pray for you! Personal crisis always outweighs everything else going on in the world. Hugs.
New follower after I met you at your sister’s house a few weeks ago. Very much enjoying your blog. A friend of mine had this posted as her Facebook status. I’m trying to keep it in mind today, though I’m glad that the victims of the almost ten-year-old tragedy may finally have some closure today.
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.” Proverbs 24 17:18
Whoops, meant to write: “Proverbs 24: 17-18”.
You are the second person to quote that to me this morning (the other on FB), and I see it again below. I’m glad I’m not alone.
I had this sort of feeling this morning, too. I was talking with my girls and they were watching the chanting and partying in front of the White House and in New York. And I said, “It would have been better if Bin Laden would have seen the error of his ways and repented.” And a dear friend of mine posted a quote from the bible (I can’t remember where from) that reminded us that the “LORD rejoices not in the perishing of the wicked…but that the wicked would turn from their ways.”
I’m not jumping up and down for joy about it. It’s a horrible world in which we live that this seems the only way to end it. So, no, I am not joyful at the death of Bin Laden. And I do have a fear of the retribution that awaits.
I worry about retribution, too. And I hope this vacuum is not destined to be filled by someone even worse.
maybe not jump for joy in the streets that he’s dead, but i figure this may be one of the closest counts of “just killing” that there is. the man terrorized, financed, and supported the killing of thousands of innocent people in the name of religion for over 20 years.
plus, it seems that he was given the chance to surrender and it looks like his friends were ordered to shoot him, as he didn’t want to be captured alive. the details are murky right now but i guess we’ll find out what really happened eventually.
Exactly my point – it’s fair to celebrate the killing of a man when said man has caused the deaths of thousands.
I agree with the last two commenters. This post comes across as extremely self-righteous. Decades of his terrorism, the loss of innocent life thousands of times over at his direction — and his death is what evokes all this sadness for you? And by the way, it’s hardly clear that this was an “execution” as you characterize it — according to the NY Times he was resisting when he was killed. I’m sure those who risked their lives in this operation can appreciate the distinction even if you cannot.
I’m not glad either. Thank you for posting this. And despite the above comment, I’m sure you’re seeing the large number of posts all over the Internet and Facebook and such saying the same thing: that a human person’s death is nothing to celebrate, that violence only breeds more violence, and that this whole event is yet another sign of the brokenness of our broken world.
I was a little saddened at the celebrations that were going on … I think the Vatican offered the best advice: reflection rather than rejoicing.
I, too, feel sad that he forced things to come to this. In the end, we die the way we live – if by violence, hatred, and killing, then we can expect to die as a result of this. The sad part for me is that he probably saw no reason to change his evil ways. In fact, evidence is showing further planned attacks. So I glorify God that He allowed this man to leave this world at this time, and I ask mercy from the Just Judge. Some things are best turned over to the Lord. We need to pray for the conversion of all Muslims and leave bin Laden to God.
We’re probably all struggling with how to react to bin Laden’s death. Glad that he can’t mastermind anymore terrorist attacks? Yes. And perhaps some justice has been served. I can’t be outright pacifist, as I think it’s obvious that sometimes lethal force is the only way to deal with some threats. But let’s not lose our Christian principles in the process.
Good post. As you know, I agree with you. But it is such an emotional issue and a struggle for some. Feelings are feelings. We cannot help how we feel. But what we do with our feelings is another thing. Reflection and prayer seems like good advice. God bless!