This picture adorned the front page of Tuesday's Post Gazette. When I saw it, I couldn't help but think it was a strange choice. But perhaps it is reflective of a strange celebration. We aren't celebrating a safer world. Few believe that our troops will abruptly leave Afghanistan or our 'advisors' will leave Iraq, or that the defense budget will return to its 2001 level of $432 billion down from today's $720 billion, or that we will eliminate Homeland Security and its expenditures ($424 billion since established), or that we will board planes faster, or that the Guantanamo Bay detention camp prisoners will be released. No, what Bin Laden wrought won't be so easily unwrought. It was more of a celebration of relief and revenge.
Perhaps that's why the author of the sign had to thank G-d, rather than God.
3 comments:
Right on. I was bothered by all the chest-thumping but couldn't quite put my finger on why this was so disquieting. Your blog explained a lot of it. Let me add two quotes.
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." blogger Jessica Dovey
“When you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite.” Winston Churchill
I will admit that I took place in celebrations over his death at my school. I was happy. But looking back on it, the way we celebrated it like a sports victory, I feel sick and guilty and wish I never did it.
Although, definitely different, it reminded me of the rejoicing in other countries after 9/11.
I have learned my lesson.
I learned the same lesson in college. Basically, it is the lesson of mob mentality.
In my case it was celebrating a sports victory—a few times. Once we bounced cabs and the passengers in them. Another time we led cops on merry chases through the fields of St. Mary's. Like Michael's experience, it was fun. But also like Mike's experience, I would have never done it if I hadn't been caught up in the mob mentality.
I like the comparison of "rejoicing in other countries after 9/11."
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