My first reaction to hearing Bin Laden was killed was sadness. My thoughts were of the three thousand people that died on 9/11. I thought of those forced to leap from the tower. I thought of those calling loved ones from planes. I thought of the firemen running into the WTC.
And then I thought, “Yesssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!! The bastard’s dead!!” If my mind could fist pump and do a dance mine did. I had to remind myself that a human being has died. A human being who had a lot of bad things on his soul. And I felt bad for dancing, if only metaphorically. But I’m having a hard time feeling too bad.
I am proud as heck of our armed forces doing their job better than anyone else in the world. I’m proud that Presidents Bush and Obama never stopped searching (even when I thought neither of them was really looking for him too hard.) And I’m glad that we got him. He needed getting. This sends a message to radical Muslims all around the globe. If you come after us we will come after you. And we won’t stop coming after you. Not in one year. Not in five. Not ever.
And then my mind went to issues like wondering if this would help Obama’s reelection chances. I really hope not. But that’s not what this day is for. This is a Lee Greenwood day. It’s an “I’m Proud to be an American” on the cd player sung at the top of your voice. Maybe even a little Toby Keith.
This video is kinda’ cool too as people at the Phillies/Mets game started hearing the news, chants of USA USA start popping up. Kinda’ cool.
The cadets at West Point react to the news here:
I’m interested in your guy’s thoughts and reactions to the news.
May 2, 2011 at 2:01 pm
I am happy we kilt him and I am angry that Pakis hid him.
Now, can we bring the troops home?
May 2, 2011 at 2:02 pm
You won't be able to avoid some of the merit being expropriated by Obama; listen to the press conference and how he wants to let it appear that he was ohh so decisive.
Still, I do think that the majority of undecided voters will be smarter than that and 18 months is a ong time anyway.
From Europe, allow me to extend the warmest gratitude to your brave, brave soldiers.
Make no mistake, this is a great day.
Mundabor
P.s. no, no sadness here. Osama had it coming, chicken come home to roost, and all that.
May 2, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Let's pray that our nation is safer.
Let's also not forget Luke 6:27-38
May 2, 2011 at 2:23 pm
The celebrating rubs me the wrong way. i think grim satisfaction would be more appropriate. Now, let's pray for the SOB's soul. Not for his sake, but for ours.
May 2, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Many years ago, Malcolm X, said when he heard a plane full of white folks crashed, "I just heard some real good news!" Well, I just heard some real good news an hour ago, Bin Laden's dead! USA! USA!
May 2, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Have to admit that the only thing I could think of when seeing the cadets celebrating is the video of the Muslim people celebrating in the streets on 9/11 and how angry/hurt that made us. Such celebration over the death of any individual is not acceptable in my book. As you said, while he certainly has had it coming and if there was a case for the death penalty, OBL would fit the bill, this was an early end to a human life.
May 2, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Have prayed for his soul…
I also feel the celebrations are just as bad as the Arab world celebrations when the towers came down. A human being (several actually) has died and we know not the state of his soul. We must be careful not to be too "happy".However,
Congratulations to our brave men & women who worked so hard for this day
May 2, 2011 at 2:36 pm
I think all the celebrating could hurt us, as we have to be on alert for more attacks now. I do like that it's united the country (at least briefly) once again.
I liked Obama speech too… he even mentioned "one nation under God" at the end of his speech. I was blown away… totally not expecting that.
May 2, 2011 at 2:37 pm
I didn't feel like celebrating either. Not sure it really makes much real difference in terms of our safety and I'm not much given to revenge. Osama's life, from what little I know, seemed like a complete disaster. He appeared to be filled with hate and anger; it could not have been pleasant to be him. Perhaps he knew regret. If he became penitent at the end I believe even he could be saved.
May 2, 2011 at 2:37 pm
One monkey don't stop no show.
May 2, 2011 at 3:28 pm
"Simply put, God loved Osama Bin Laden and extended His mercy to him. It is our duty as Christians, as witnesses to the love of God to extend our forgiveness to Bin Laden and pray that he accepted that mercy and that he will be with us in paradise. The celebration around his death ought to make all Christians uneasy; even more so the many declarations that they hope Osama is burning in hell."
from American Catholic
It made me very sad and uneasy to see the crowd of 20's and 30 somethings cheering in front of the WH last night. These people should be home raising families, and I wonder how many have put their lives on the line in the military.
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
May 2, 2011 at 3:30 pm
I am THRILLED that he is dead, extremely proud of our CIA and Navy Seal Team Six, but I am also sad that Satan may have gained another soul. Mostly likely he did.
I think this may be no coincidence that he was killed on Divine Mercy Sunday. He was an evil man and killing him may delay or prevent other attacks. That is a GOOD thing. It was his choices that lead to his death.
Of course we CAN celebrate and be glad, but only because we have gained a military victory, not because a man has been killed. We need to draw the distinction because there is one.
Should we not now redouble our prayers for an end to the following of Islam and a conversion of all souls to Christ?
As for bringing our troops home? Um, no. That would be very stupid. Unless of course you think it is easier to back off, let them regroup and then kill them from the air. Even then you would be missing the military objectives and allowing them to continue vast terrorist operations. We can not allow that. No matter what.
May 2, 2011 at 3:31 pm
I think Fr put to words the way I felt. Grim satisfaction. I felt no joy, no pride, no feeling of closure. Just an "OK, it's done." Now what?
Admittedly my immediate next thought was selfish. Where and when (not if) will the retaliation take place and will my husband be safe. He is flying to Europe and Asia over the next 7 weeks. Usually I have some brief anxiety when he is overseas, this time I will be a lot more than a little anxious.
May 2, 2011 at 3:32 pm
After praying for his soul…
I had a hard time feeling "happy" at another human being's death. I wish people wouldn't celebrate it but I certainly understand the sentiment. But, yeah, I'm happy he is gone, that the US was successful in this part of our mission. My husband spent the longest 15 months of our marriage away from his wife and small daughters because of this man, so a little celebratory high five is in order.
May 2, 2011 at 3:33 pm
I forgot to mention that this uneasiness came from attending a Divine Mercy celebration of Benediction, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Mass, where 95% of the attendees went to Confession, and feeling the power of Blessed JPII intercessions and God's loving kindness.
WOW, what a day.
God is good all the time.
May 2, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Think Osama has the good good fortune that he died on Divine Mercy Sunday, so perhaps even this soul received beyond what we can comprehend, God's forgiveness and love.
May 2, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Glad isn't quite the right word– more of a "finally" sort of feeling. He was a threat, now he's not. On to the next threat.
He hasn't been very active of late, but this is as close to justice as that murdering blanker was likely to get on this level of existence.
Sickened by Obama's childishness at such an important event– making people wait an hour, that just "happens" to mean interfering with the show of someone who's made him look bad.
Wondering where those pre-printed signs came from for the gathering outside the White House.
Disgusted that the response from some on twitter was to call for W's death to follow.
Waiting for the hue and cry about how horrible it was to kill him to start.
May 2, 2011 at 3:51 pm
*We are obliged, when we profess "credo," to behave as He would and as He commanded us. We must soberly face the verity and reality of His second greatest commandment, offered in stark truth and contrast to the intent of those officials who challenged His authority.
*This event will be a "game changer" only in the realm of perception, perspective and speculation. This is why we ought to ponder, again soberly, how each of us receives and filters "news" and from whom do we choose to be the agent of the information.
*Obviously, the chasm between the strategies of governments and their functions and how they are portrayed vastly and ironically on small devices to gargantuan media walls in our dens by organizations who have economic agendas at stake as they deliver "content" to us, that chasm is a grand canyon. How can we ever see the far side, the other side?
*Adjunct to another CM article about the ire of JPII abou the Iraq war, I ask "How think you, Blessed Holy Father, of this?"
God bless the USA, God bless us all, friend and foe, God deliver us from every evil.
May 2, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Relief. That's what I feel but also very much worried about the repercussions. Saddened by what can be conceived as joy at a person's death because we should only feel relief that he will no longer bring his evil to us.
Proud of our military. Only wish it had been the Army that took him down. ;o)
May 2, 2011 at 4:00 pm
God loved Hitler. And reacting with happiness upon receiving the good news of his death was neither sinful or uncouth. The same goes for Bin Laden who plotted many many many deaths of innocent souls.
Any time an evil sadistic murdering terrorist is kilt is a day to celebrate – at least it used to be before the rise of feminism within the Catholic Church.
I never thought I'd write this, but here goes – KUDOS to The POTUS.