4 ms·
My feelings were similar. On one hand it is perfectly normal and natural to be happy to see justice served at the end of a gun... we humans are social creatures
by hugh3 16y ago
My feelings were similar. On one hand it is perfectly normal and natural to be happy to see justice served at the end of a gun... we humans are social creatures, and the desire which we have to see wrongdoers punished is a normal and natural part of our emotional makeup.
On the other hand, as a civilized person I think that actively glorying in the death of an enemy is a bit unseemly. So I felt a bit of quiet satisfaction, made a few pithy comments to mark the occasion, and poured myself a glass of my most expensive whisky.
So basically in answer to the grandparent question: I think the appropriate response is to keep quiet about it. Let other folks express their own feelings about this historic occasion without feeling the need to elevate yourself above them.
- JoeAltmaier 16y agoI also think it unseemly; especially when the enemy is one of circumstance and in a better world... But this guy? He killed men, women and children to make a political point. He sacrificed his own, to make his point. He sat back in his mansion, rich and pampered, paying to have people killed. I admit to a little glorying, to an unseemly degree. Just this once.
- lukeschlather 16y ago>But this guy? He killed men, women and children to make a political point. He sacrificed his own, to make his point. He sat back in his mansion, rich and pampered, paying to have people killed. The same could be said about thousands of people on both sides of this war. Personally, as long as there are people willing to take his place, I'm not rejoicing one bit.
- JoeAltmaier 16y agoWait - really? Implying me and you too? Consider the strike force on this one: volunteers, entered under enemy fire and Arrested the bodyguards they encountered, found the guy and disabled the young woman guarding him by wounding her in the leg; retreated with his body; had to blow up the disabled helicopter but first Dragged the Enemy Bastard's personal bodyguard to safety(!), then left all while under fire. There's a word that describes all that, but its not 'terrorism' its...wait...let me think...Heroism! Yeah, that's right.
- lukeschlather 16y agoBin Laden was a bad person, sure. But there are a lot of bad people in this world. Why was he specifically killed, and why is he singular in his ability to motivate Muslims to terrorism? Why is he going to be any less effective in his death than in his life? I just don't see the value in his death. Terrorists in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq have no shortage of leaders, or of new recruits. The only real purpose I see in his death is making a new martyr - much more powerful than the hunted man who died.
- JoeAltmaier 16y agoA dead martyr has no money. So there's that. The rest remains to be seen.