And Now To Piss People Off
I am not sure why, but I feel compelled to briefly share my opinion about the death of Osama Bin Laden and the way America has reacted. Some will agree, some will strongly disagree but wherever you stand, perhaps for a moment you will ponder this.
Right now, thousands of Americans are celebrating the death of a man and what they believe it symbolizes. Was he a good and decent man? No, but he was a human being and I can't for the life of me imagine celebrating the death of another human being.
Turning on the television and seeing the jubilation of the crowd does not evoke feelings of joy in my own heart. What I feel is much more somber and reflective. It never ceases to amaze me how well trained we are as a nation in our reactions. When the blood is on our hands we rejoice but when the blood is on our soil we become enraged and peruse blind revenge, retaliation. But how can we so mindlessly think that carrying out our own revenge will not be met with others searching for the same satisfaction. For in the end, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
And while the acts of 9/11 were indeed tragic beyond belief, do not be so quick to forget the number of deaths America has itself imposed. For compassion should not stop at our shores with only those like us, whom we can relate, but should spread the world over.
Right now, thousands of Americans are celebrating the death of a man and what they believe it symbolizes. Was he a good and decent man? No, but he was a human being and I can't for the life of me imagine celebrating the death of another human being.
Turning on the television and seeing the jubilation of the crowd does not evoke feelings of joy in my own heart. What I feel is much more somber and reflective. It never ceases to amaze me how well trained we are as a nation in our reactions. When the blood is on our hands we rejoice but when the blood is on our soil we become enraged and peruse blind revenge, retaliation. But how can we so mindlessly think that carrying out our own revenge will not be met with others searching for the same satisfaction. For in the end, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
And while the acts of 9/11 were indeed tragic beyond belief, do not be so quick to forget the number of deaths America has itself imposed. For compassion should not stop at our shores with only those like us, whom we can relate, but should spread the world over.
Well said.
ReplyDeleteThis evokes the same sentiments of the MLK quote, "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy."
Thank the Lord there are still people like you in the world. It seems to be our only hope right now - because the rest of the world has lost their sense of morality.
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