Well, now

[veronica_rich]

Working with Pakistan to get bin Laden - now THAT'S cooperation. Good job, guys!

(I do wonder who in his organization is going to step up to take his place, though. Taking out the head may weaken a group but it doesn't necessarily mean its end. Still, this is an important psychological piece of news for a lot of Americans, at the least.)

ETA: I do confess I'm rather uneasy celebrating anyone's death. It may be a lingering superstition from my mother, who always pointed out anytime anyone she knew wished death or illness on someone, it usually seemed it struck someone that person loved instead. Or maybe it's just my typical reaction to the vast majority of extremist reaction; I'm not sure.

Comments

[finding-neo.livejournal.com]

We might rejoice, but this isn't over. He's now a martyr to the anti-American movement. Wonderful.

I am extremely disgusted by the celebratory nature of American's reactions. People are shooting off fireworks in some places.

I am sure there was rejoicing in the streets in the Middle East somewhere when the World Trade Center buildings came down.

An eye for an eye? We're a Christian nation, supposedly.....

Even if he had been captured, his sentence would have been death. I suppose that's the only thing the "other side" understands would happen to him as their view of life is different than ours.

I'm certainly not upset that he's dead, just that Americans think the world revolves around us.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I vascillated last night, watching the news footage of the celebrations, between annoyed and understanding some of it. Those college kids - they've spent half their lives living and hearing about this, and two wars, one of which was ostensibly predicated on bin Laden (I think we've all given up the pretense Iraq ever was in the first place). You and I are probably too old to appreciate that, but I imagine it had a similar impact that seeing Challenger explode had on me back in grade school, with respect to the space program and space, period. Plus, there are people in NYC who were truly traumatized by this, being so close to what happened. I can understand their point in being at Ground Zero last night.

Still, yeah - I don't quite get it myself. I'll go so far as to say I'm glad he's gone, but "jubilance" isn't quite it.

[bellumed.livejournal.com]

It's not superstition for me, I just don't understand the celebratory reaction. I'm glad we finally took him out, but I'm not dancing in the streets with my flag.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I don't even think I have a flag, come to think of it ...

[nobleplatypus]

I, too, am uncomfortable with the celebratory reactions I've seen--not because I'm superstitious, but because there's just no way to celebrate someone's death without looking like an asshole. Don't get me wrong, I'm rather relieved that he's gone... but having an Ewok-style party over it seems distasteful.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I'll tell you, if last night was the only revelry of that kind we're gonna see out of this, I'm prepared to forgive them. It was late at night, it was big news, and I'm sure highly political people on either side were gloating - Obama's that he gave the order to take him down, and Bush's that he started all this in the first place. I don't think people were thinking rationally.

[hippediva.livejournal.com]

Thank you for voicing the same icky feelings I had last night! I was really disturbed by all the dancing in the streets and singing. It just seems to me very horrible to be celebrating anyone's demise, no matter how terrible that person might have been. But, that said, I can't be sorry he's gone. Definitely problematic.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I can't take credit for being the first to feel it; Nat was extremely uneasy last night over all the mass rejoicing, and we discussed why that might be. I told her on the news, there was footage of people at Ground Zero celebrating, and in D.C., and I pointed out in those two places, I can kind of see their point - they were the ones that got hit, especially NYC. I'm willing to give them a pass for a day or two of over-the-top cheeriness, I suppose. (And honestly, for the college-aged people, consider that this manhunt/wars has taken up half their lives - I can see why it'd be a big deal to them too, I guess.) Although I will say, I think Obama handled the announcement decently - he came out, said his piece, and ambled off to bed, frankly looking pretty tired. No smirking or yeehaws, like someone I'm afraid I could have named at one point.

As a skeptic and Independent - and this has nothing to do with partisan politics, just thoroughness - I'd like to know there's some sort of proof verification this was actually bin Laden who died. I'm also curious to the extent of Pakistan's role and knowledge in this (I'm not necessarily accusing those officials of hiding him willingly, but it's a natural question, IMO).

[hippediva.livejournal.com]

*G* Yes....someone else one my flist wisely quoted Twain: "I do not wish the death of any man. But there are some obituaries I read with pleasure." Or something to that effect...and that sums up my feelings pretty well, if cynically. I understand how it is a big deal and I remember too well the tv footage of dancing in the streets in certain places on 9/11, which was horrible. Then again, it also seems to me that globally we're going backwards towards vicious and vengeful tribal mentalities and no amount of anything is helping to stop it.

There's more and more info coming out---I'm sure they'll release enough to stave off any but the most committed conspiracist. And Pakistan? *eyeroll* He was a guest of State, I'm sure! *snickers* But everyone will figure out a way to politely circle that and settle into another decade of uneasy mutual suspicion. And that has nothing to do with party anything---it's simply international fol-de-rol at its finest. Hasn't changed since the earliest empires---it's all a dance of fear, intimidation, convenience and greed. LOL!

[zagzagael.livejournal.com]

*nods* Total agreement. It is a huge relief that this particular search is finally over and as far as justice being done, it does feel as though that chapter is closed. But yes, celebrating a death no matter how vicious the deceased...feels bad.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I'm still trying to figure out what to make of all of it. Although, I'm heartened by my workplace ... I think. I work with a bunch of rednecks in the Midwest, and so far, nobody's been running through the halls cheering today, or even making a lot of noise about it. (Although I can't tell if it's because they're decent people, because it was Obama instead of their hero George, or a mixture. *G*)

[captsparrow4evr.livejournal.com]

To use a probably non-pc image: If you find a big pile of snakes and cut the head off the biggest one, all the rest run and hide. You don't get rid of the snakes but now they're hiding all over the area and the hunt is ten times worse. I feel no celebration that Bin Laden is dead. Heck, I don't even feel relief. I am concerned that there will be retaliation for this action and, indeed, as in the metaphor I presented, we may yet "die of a thousand little cuts" rather than one coordinated attack.

I'm sure it will make a lot of people feel better but celebrating even the death of evil is inappropriate, imho.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

My sister remarked last night with all the celebrations would have been a good time for another attack. I pointed out that I would hope Obama has enough of a brain to plan for such a thing, as well as the military chiefs, and that security was tightened prior to the announcement - and will be for a while.

I just want out of these two wars, and not to engage in any others for a while - I'm glad people elsewhere are standing up for their rights, but frankly, the collective U.S. should be tired of fighting for a while, nor can it afford to keep doing so indefinitely. Hell, we can't afford what WE started.

[biggelois.livejournal.com]

My mum said the exact same thing as your mum. Don't wish bad things on others, they will come back and bite you.All over, it's bad form to celebrate a death.

This can go two ways; either the movement will be subdued and lose power now that he's dead. Or they'll gain more will to fight and revenge the death of their leader. I'm a bit worried to be honest.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I think it's a mistake to let down our collective guard, that's for sure. This isn't over and I'm not sure it'll ever be "over" - the worst might lessen over some years, but it won't go away. You can't eradicate ideas like you can diseases or plagues.