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Timeless, yes. But I must have first read it in 2016 because the example I have in my mind are the people who cheered Justice Antonin Scalia’s death but questio

Timeless, yes. But I must have first read it in 2016 because the example I have in my mind are the people who cheered Justice Antonin Scalia’s death but questioned the instinct to cheer the death of Osama Bin Laden.

laidoffamazon 3y ago
I think there were a lot of people that cheered the deaths of both, myself included. I don't know anybody that didn't cheer the death of OBL actually. I did see some morons on Twitter/X try though, but they were pretty fringe even among the left.
- Georgelemental 3y ago
  There might be a geographical divide. I have heard that animosity to OBL was much stronger on the East Coast (near NYC) versus West Coast.
- jltsiren 3y ago
  That sounds weird to me as a European. The main reaction to Osama's death I remember was disappointment. Disappointment in the weakness of the US. Disappointment that they didn't even pretend to be on the right side of history. Disappointment that they just killed Osama rather than capturing him and having him face justice, like Israel did for Eichmann. Disappointment that Obama acted like Putin, while Bush at least managed to capture Saddam.
  - refurb 3y ago
    The fact you think Osama could have been captured is bizarre. The dude slept with an AK-47 next to his bed. He wasn’t going to be captured alive.
    - jltsiren 3y ago
      I find your idea that capture was impossible bizarre. It would certainly have been difficult, and it could also have been unlikely to succeed. But the fact that capture was not even attempted turned the operation into a show of weakness. Many governments assassinate undesirable people around the world. It doesn't take that much effort. Capturing them alive and bringing them home is much more effective as a show of strength. And having them face a public trial can be an effective way of demonstrating that your actions were justified.
      - refurb 3y ago
        Other people with Osama were captured because they surrendered. The same would have happened to Osama.
siofgnionio 3y ago
In the "war on terror", the US set up large-scale torture programs and killed millions of innocent people, all based on lies and blind hatred. I will cheer no part of that bloodbath. bin Laden was horrible. We were no better. If you want to celebrate bin Laden's death while burning an American flag, be my guest. But don't celebrate it while waving one.

laidoffamazon 3y ago

I think there were a lot of people that cheered the deaths of both, myself included. I don't know anybody that didn't cheer the death of OBL actually. I did see some morons on Twitter/X try though, but they were pretty fringe even among the left.

Georgelemental 3y ago
There might be a geographical divide. I have heard that animosity to OBL was much stronger on the East Coast (near NYC) versus West Coast.
jltsiren 3y ago
That sounds weird to me as a European. The main reaction to Osama's death I remember was disappointment. Disappointment in the weakness of the US. Disappointment that they didn't even pretend to be on the right side of history. Disappointment that they just killed Osama rather than capturing him and having him face justice, like Israel did for Eichmann. Disappointment that Obama acted like Putin, while Bush at least managed to capture Saddam.
- refurb 3y ago
  The fact you think Osama could have been captured is bizarre. The dude slept with an AK-47 next to his bed. He wasn’t going to be captured alive.
  - jltsiren 3y ago
    I find your idea that capture was impossible bizarre. It would certainly have been difficult, and it could also have been unlikely to succeed. But the fact that capture was not even attempted turned the operation into a show of weakness. Many governments assassinate undesirable people around the world. It doesn't take that much effort. Capturing them alive and bringing them home is much more effective as a show of strength. And having them face a public trial can be an effective way of demonstrating that your actions were justified.
    - refurb 3y ago
      Other people with Osama were captured because they surrendered. The same would have happened to Osama.

siofgnionio 3y ago

In the "war on terror", the US set up large-scale torture programs and killed millions of innocent people, all based on lies and blind hatred. I will cheer no part of that bloodbath. bin Laden was horrible. We were no better. If you want to celebrate bin Laden's death while burning an American flag, be my guest. But don't celebrate it while waving one.