The White House has decided not to release the death photos of Osama Bin Laden. Critics on the airwaves and in Congress are decrying the secrecy and fanning the flames of conspiracy. "How can we be sure he's dead?" they say. Can't we, just this once, believe our Commander in Chief? No? How about believing in Seal Team Six? No?
What will releasing the pictures accomplish? People who do not want to believe this President will not believe any proof that is offered. We could put Bin Laden's body on public display at Ground Zero and still these people wouldn't believe. Unless George W. Bush himself testified that he personally shot Bin Laden, carried his body back to U.S. soil and conducted the DNA analysis, conspiracy theorists and Obama haters will refuse to believe the truth. Can't we just praise the bravery and professionalism of those involved in taking down Bin Laden while honoring our dead?
By not releasing the death photos, Obama is doing his best to protect the safety of our service men and women around the globe and at the same time regaining some of the restraint, dignity, and humanity that our country has lost during our war on terror.
Well done Mr. President and God bless.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
A day to celebrate?
I awoke this morning to the news that Osama Bin Laden was dead. An event more than 10 years in the making. I made the mistake of reading the Facebook posts and reading the comments in news articles. I have been struck by the jubilation, the crowing, and the political finger pointing.
Over and over I hear that this should be a day of celebration for the nation. But I cannot celebrate the loss of human life, even if that human is as despicable as Osama Bin Laden. How can I celebrate the death of one man that came at the expense of thousands upon thousands of innocent Afghani and Iraqi women and children and the thousands of brave service men and women from countries around the world. Can I really celebrate the death of a man, a death that came at the costs of thousands of lives and billions of dollars?
And let's not kid ourselves. His death is not going to make us safer. This is not the same as "cutting the head of the serpent." It's more like killing off the CEO of McDonald's. There may be a little corporate chaos for a few weeks, but don't think for a minute that Mickey D's doesn't have a game plan for just that eventuality. And don't think for a minute that Al Queda didn't have a game plan in place for the inevitable death of Bin Laden.
I do hope that his death brings closure to those who have suffered from his life. I hope that it brings comfort to those who are grieving their losses. I do hope that it mean we can bring our service men and women home. But I don't think it will.
Before I am called unpatriotic or an enemy sympathizer, I'm not saying that his death didn't have to happen. It did. Bin Laden had to die. There was no way he could have been brought to trial to stand justice for his crimes. I just don't have to celebrate his death.
In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Over and over I hear that this should be a day of celebration for the nation. But I cannot celebrate the loss of human life, even if that human is as despicable as Osama Bin Laden. How can I celebrate the death of one man that came at the expense of thousands upon thousands of innocent Afghani and Iraqi women and children and the thousands of brave service men and women from countries around the world. Can I really celebrate the death of a man, a death that came at the costs of thousands of lives and billions of dollars?
And let's not kid ourselves. His death is not going to make us safer. This is not the same as "cutting the head of the serpent." It's more like killing off the CEO of McDonald's. There may be a little corporate chaos for a few weeks, but don't think for a minute that Mickey D's doesn't have a game plan for just that eventuality. And don't think for a minute that Al Queda didn't have a game plan in place for the inevitable death of Bin Laden.
I do hope that his death brings closure to those who have suffered from his life. I hope that it brings comfort to those who are grieving their losses. I do hope that it mean we can bring our service men and women home. But I don't think it will.
Before I am called unpatriotic or an enemy sympathizer, I'm not saying that his death didn't have to happen. It did. Bin Laden had to die. There was no way he could have been brought to trial to stand justice for his crimes. I just don't have to celebrate his death.
In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.,
I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
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