Article Obama announces Osama bin Laden killed by U.S.

[Washburne]

Why do you believe doing nothing was the right thing to do? (unless you don't - in which case I would want to know what you think should have been done)

I'm trying to find an article/source for you but bin Laden refused arrest.

Guess those go hand in hand. Arresting sounds good to me. Now... of course it all depends on how the situation unfolded. Which I have no idea. At best we get the american view on it. Not saying they lie but I often go by "there's three sides to every story". If there were no other choice between killing him or letting him go free I've already said what I'd pick.

Being happy that he's no longer a threat (in the same way)? Yes. Of course yes. Celebrating that he was killed by americans? Nothing for me. Wouldn't be if it were swedish soldiers either. If others want to do so ok then. Cheering for something that has the chance of making the world even less safe? No way but if people want to do that I'll let them.

I found this: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html

3 pages. Mind narrowing it down?

 

[BuffyElevated]

Kean agrees: That was really rather rude reply to a genuine comment.

Excuse me. I'm just really pissed off, and I hate when people try to put words in my mouth or insenuate that I meant something I didn't.

I'm stepping out of this conversation. I feel too strongly about this to be able to discuss/debate without getting pissed off at people who disagree.

 

[Harley]

Guess those go hand in hand. Arresting sounds good to me. Now... of course it all depends on how the situation unfolded. Which I have no idea. At best we get the american view on it. Not saying they lie but I often go by "there's three sides to every story". If there were no other choice between killing him or letting him go free I've already said what I'd pick.

Being happy that he's no longer a threat (in the same way)? Yes. Of course yes. Celebrating that he was killed by americans? Nothing for me. Wouldn't be if it were swedish soldiers either. If others want to do so ok then. Cheering for something that has the chance of making the world even less safe? No way but if people want to do that I'll let them.


3 pages. Mind narrowing it down?

Er, it was the second paragraph.

In a dramatic late-night appearance in the East Room of the White House, Mr. Obama declared that "justice has been done" as he disclosed that American military and C.I.A. operatives had finally cornered Bin Laden, the Al Qaeda leader who had eluded them for nearly a decade. American officials said Bin Laden resisted and was shot in the head. He was later buried at sea.

 

[Kean]

Excuse me. I'm just really pissed off, and I hate when people try to put words in my mouth or insenuate that I meant something I didn't.

I'm stepping out of this conversation. I feel too strongly about this to be able to discuss/debate without getting pissed off at people who disagree.

I didn't put any words in your mouth nor did I insinuate you said something you did not. I asked a question. That was all.

 

[Hero]

While I'm very happy that America can have some closure to 9/11 and a very bad man is gone, people's reactions to this event have really made me confused/angry. Here are some of things I've seen a lot of:

1. "We got him!" A lot of people are saying we got him like America as whole went over to Pakistan and busted down his door. I feel like, based off what I'e seen so far, not enough credit is being given to our troops, especially those who are currently deployed. THEY are the ones who got him.

2. It took a black president to get him. About 75% of my friends are black and they think that the only reason Osama is dead is because we have a black president. When I tried to explaining to them that it has NOTHING to do with race, that it has EVERYTHING to do with EVERYONE doing their job currently, they got defensive with the "you have your views, i have mine." excuse. why does everything have to be black/white?

3. It's over. Last night they went live from Ground Zero where a big party was happening. Some guy comes over crying and is saying how happy it is that it's over. A lot of people on Twitter are saying how happy they are that it's over. Do people actually think terrorism is just suddenly over because we got Osama?

 

[Lindsey McDonald]

I think what's happening here is very similar to what happens immediately after the death penalty is administered. People directly involved, e.g., victims, their families etc., are left celebrating the death of another. But it's nigh on impossible for anyone on the outside to really understand why they feel that way, and the more distanced you are, the more "wrong" it often seems. It's just happening on a (primarily) national scale. For Americans - especially those from, or with family in, NYC - there must be a huge sense of communal closure and justice, which so easily turns into mass-celebration. But people with a little more distance are often bound to look at the situation more critically.

I don't think it's right to judge anyone who feels happiness at Osama's death. But I think, in time, the initial reaction will fade into a more reasoned satisfaction, rather than joy. After all, that's why there is an international military community. It's so easy to lash out after an atrocity, but distance and realism is always needed. Hopefully this will help many of the people affected find closure, but more importantly I hope it can signify an end to that kind of reactionary foreign policy. It's not the end of terrorism by a long shot, but it can be a new start for how we deal with it globally, that was impossible while Osama was still free.

 

[Carrrrgh]

This is one of my favorite Toby Keith songs and it seems very appropriate for this day:


Courtesy of the Red White and Blue by Toby Keith
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NynbLtRLisg&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/ame]

 

[zobothehobo]

This is a tumblr post with one of my favorite unreleased Taylor Swift songs. It was written not long after 9/11 about that day by Taylor. It's an incredible song. I'm going to copy and past my words I wrote with the post.

"If there’s ever a time we should remember that day and celebrate in memory of the victims of that terrible attack, it’s today. Let's celebrate the death of another human, but the memory of those who died nearly ten years ago and the closure their families can have."
http://zobothehobo.tumblr.com/post/5132382179/if-theres-ever-a-time-we-should-remember-that-day#notes

I believe that to my core and I've been listening to this song non-stop all day.

 

[Fusions2]

As much as I'm happily shocked to hear that this evil man can no longer inflict pain on the innocent this also makes me very weary. We have no idea what may happen in the coming weeks or months. Terrorism will probably never be wiped out completely but I hope through Osama's death terrorism will be weakened for a long time to come.

 

[Flannen]

I cannot find one positive emotion to describe hearing this news. I'm not happy, I'm not relieved and I certainly will not be celebrating. This by no means that I am judging those who are or will be celebrating the death of Bin Laden but personally, (I can't stress that word enough) I find any celebration of death utterly disturbing. I remember when Saddam was executed and I was forced to see pictures of it happening and I was completely disgusted by it.

As someone who is completely against the death penalty, I cannot say that killing Bin Laden was right, nor can I offer any other solution or pretend that I didn't think it was inevitable. And that is why I will not celebrate. I will not celebrate the fact that we live in a world where it is kill or be killed; I will not be happy about fighting violence with violence, despite the fact I know there is no other way. Of course, I offer my respect and praise to the troops who continue to fight the war on terrorism, but I will not celebrate the fact they have to do so.

As to all this "eye for an eye" business? Well, it does make the world blind. The state of the world right now, is more than enough to tell you that.

 

[arabella]

The death of another human is not something I am able to celebrate, that said, I am very thankful of the comfort that this has brought to my friends who lost a loved one on September 11, 2001. I haven't the words to express what I feel...I believe there is a time for everything, and I am proud to be American. There is so much to be done here though. Storms to clean up. People's lives shattered from storms. I hope that we do not forget them in light of this momentous news.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[OhWow]

Bout damn time! I am just nervous about the retaliation.

 

[msfantastico87]

*reads everything*
*starts to write really long post*
*realizes it doesn't matter*
*deletes posts*
*runs away scared*

 

[prophecygrrl]

I'm an American and I feel conflicted. Though I am very very strongly against the death penalty, I have to say that I feel almost no regret over bin Laden's death. I'm certainly not celebrating it either. I'm conflicted because I am much, much more concerned about what it cost to get here. Thousands of American and coalition soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians dead or injured. That is what bin Laden's death represents to me, not American spirit or justice. I'm glad for the closure this will bring to everyone directly or indirectly affected by 9/11, but I don't think this is a victory.

 

[zobothehobo]

OhWow disagrees: It is not like an eye for an eye at all. Back then the ppl were barbaric, it's like you kill my sister I kill yours and in modern terms perhaps a personal vendetta. I do not find this barbaric Hammurabi's code, he was wanted dead or alive.

I pretty much find taking the life of another human to get justice for a crime barbaric period. Just because he killed more than one person doesn't mean he wasn't a person. He was a BAD man. An AWFUL man. But he was still a man. that's why I'm so conflicted.

 

[Gum Gnome33]

I've resisted posting here so far because I don't want to risk offending anyone or to saying anything I'm not sure I believe. Because I'm still processing this. But I'd like to echo what others have said about the importance of understanding that we have much more work to do and that outright celebrating is something that I am not feeling though I don't fault those who are.

 

[OhWow]

I neglected to read the posts before writing my first comment. As I was reading them I honestly was getting more and more frustrated. And my facts may be wrong because I really do not read into this stuff but I just am saying what I believe to be true.

I understand for the people who say " I will never celebrate a person's death." Perhaps you are just good people, moral and peaceful. I guess I am not. In no means would I throw an "Osama is dead!" party at my house but I am damn sure glad that he is dead and I hope he enjoys his afterlife, because even in his own religion ( Islam right? ) Allah will not be happy with him.

Osama actually reminds me of an infamous dictator who lived back in the 1940s. Oh yea Hitler. Like Hitler, Osama's hatred toward a certain race grew. He manipulated people into believing that the Americans were wrong. It's called holocaust, genocide, or perhaps the new hip way to say it: ethnic cleansing. Now tell me, would you celebrate the death of Hitler? I would not. It is a waste of a holiday..all morbid and such but I would obviously be happy that he died. Very happy in fact. Was Hitler being killed a good thing? Or would you rather have had him be imprisoned? I am seriously asking these questions. Because, for me, it does not matter whether Osama killed thousands of people of just fifty. He killed innocent people because he hated who they were, what they were born into and the country they lived in.

I know this may be offensive to people but those are my simple thoughts. Bringing up Hitler and the Holocaust is a very touchy subject and I know that, and I am quite honestly sorry that I brought it into this conversation.

And as for the "eye for an eye" thing. I think it is completely wrong. Like I said the rules, and laws back then were barbaric and that was the way they handled things. The point is not that Osama killed our people so we will kill him, it is that he killed innocent people in our country so we will hunt you and kill you because you damn well deserve it. It is not childish as people say. It is war and people die.The man deserved to die a horrible death and I am not ashamed to say that I am glad about it.

 

[Lyri]

I never once said that I wasn't glad that he's dead, nor did I ever say that I didn't think he deserved to die. He did deserve to die, and I am glad he's dead for what he put our countries through.

What I DID say, was that I will not be celebrating his death because his death will not end anything. Yes, I'm glad he's dead, but there will be another just like him who will take over his role. The threat of Al Qaeda is not gone, and I think that people who are running around saying that 'it's over' need to take a long, hard look at what what's going on.

Whoever takes over from Bin Laden will want revenge for his death, and America and the UK are preparing for that. As well they should.

 

[This Year's Girl]

I don't think individuals ARE evil. I think individuals are created by the enviroment and the people they are exposed to. I don't think we are born with hatred in our hearts, nor that we are born with the intention to do good. People aren't isolated islands that all of a sudden decide to do evil things, WE create the evil, WE create the good. And that means that a individual always have the potential to change, if exposed to other enviroments and people.

I really feel for all those affected by 9/11 and I don't blaim or judge people for feeling differently than me. But do I think killing bin laden was right? No. I don't think it's right to kill anyone.

 

[zobothehobo]

And as for the "eye for an eye" thing. I think it is completely wrong. Like I said the rules, and laws back then were barbaric and that was the way they handled things. The point is not that Osama killed our people so we will kill him, it is that he killed innocent people in our country so we will hunt you and kill you because you damn well deserve it. It is not childish as people say. It is war and people die.The man deserved to die a horrible death and I am not ashamed to say that I am glad about it.

I guess this is a major difference between the way we think about things here... I don't understand this sentence at all. "The point is not that Osama killed our people so we will kill him, it is that he killed innocent people in our country so we will hunt you and kill you because you damn well deserve it." I think he deserved to die, and that in and of itself gives me internal conflict with my core beliefs... But how are those two situations in that sentence two different situations? They're the same. What happened was not a clear equal eye for an eye but it was definitely a form of it. And part of my conflict with myself on this subject is that I'm completely and totally against an eye for an eye, but I don't really honestly feel that upset about this one.