My husband has accused me of being unpatriotic, and I feel alone in my non-celebration of Osama bin Laden's death. While I recognize that this was an affirming event for our country, I just can't get excited over someone being killed. True, the world is now minus one more horrible person...maybe that is something for which to be thankful. But as evil and unfeeling as he was, he was a human being (had any of us the misfortune of being born in his position, we might have turned out as he did...), and how are we any different from the terrible people who rejoiced over the deaths we suffered on 9/11 if we are celebrating someone's death at our hands?
I found this quote that someone had posted on a blog that was discussing how to broach this subject with children:
”I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but 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.”.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thanks, MLK, for reminding me that I'm not the only one who feels this way. And thank you for inspiring me to keep sharing light and love with all those whose lives I touch.
