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| From www.nzherald.co.nz |
Not too long ago, I had thought that the next time I blogged, it would be about the Royal Wedding. But I think I'll save that for later.
Because, you see, I watched the scene of the Twin Towers crumbling down, nearly ten years ago, on TV from our living room in our flat in Chennai, India.This past afternoon in the living room of our home in Auckland, New Zealand, I watched the news report of the death of Osama bin Laden, the man mainly responsible for 9/11 and many other acts of terrorism.
I'm not American and I can't imagine what Americans and people living in America have gone through since the 11th of September, 2001. But 9/11 changed the world for everyone, including me. There has been so much fear, war and death in the last ten years because of what happened that day. The threat of Al-Qaeda has been looming in the back of every one's mind like an unseeable but omnipresent monster. But now that the bogeyman is dead, there is some closure and peace seems almost attainable again.
The loss of human life is tragic, even Bin Laden's. He was someones father, someone brother. I'm sure that there were some people in his estranged family who, though they disowned him and hated his ideology, loved him and are grieving for him.
But I can't help but feel happy about his death. In fact, I'm shocked at the people criticising the US government for killing Bin Laden without a trial. There are even people who are criticising our NZ PM, John Key and the leader of the opposition, Phil Goff, for being happy about Bin Laden's death on the basis of not believing in the Death Penalty. For those people I'll just quote Harper Lee.
"Mr Finch, there's just some kind of men you have to shoot before you can say hidy to 'em. Even then, they ain't worth the bullet it takes to shoot 'em."
How many people have a problem with Boo Radley killing Bob Ewell?
I believe in second chances. I believe that when someone goes wrong you try your best to reform and change them. But then there comes a time when nothing can be done and you have to consider the safety of others.
Anyone remember Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh? He was this nice terrorist man who kidnapped three Britons and an American in New Delhi back in 1994 and threatened to behead them if the Indian Government didn't release his little terrorist friends. Sheikh was arrested and incarcerated in an Indian prison.
Then on December 1999, a bunch of his friends hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 and demanded his release in exchange for the lives of the hundred ninety-three passengers and crew members on board. Sheikh was freed but, sadly, by then it was too late for one of the passengers. A 25 year old male on his honeymoon had been stabbed multiple times and later succumbed to his injuries. My cousins and I watched the story unfold in the news in Madurai at my uncle's house. It almost ruined the Christmas break for us.
Sheikh went on to kidnap American Journalist, Daniel Pearl. People all over the world watched and waited, hoping and praying for Pearl's release. I was one among those people, watching the news anxiously. We all know how that sad story ended.
Shiekh was again arrested and is currently awaiting his execution in a Pakistani prison. Even while incarcerated he's caused a lot of trouble. According to the Pakistani newspaper, Dawn, in 2008, he prank-called the President of Pakistan, pretending to be India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and almost caused a major war. True story. Only he didn't mean it as a friendly April Fool's joke.
What I'm trying to say is that the US Forces killing Osama bin Laden without trial might have been the safest thing to do. I only hope that he's really dead; to be honest, the buried-at-sea story is a bit too wonky for me.
On a lighter note, NZ Herald has put up some tweets relating to the incident. Here are some of my favourites:
"Wow Osama Bin Laden is dead. Cause of death? Dunno...but I am secretly hoping a giant plane flew into him"
"He never should've facebooked those photos from easter weekend."
"Saddam? Check. Osama? Check. I bet Gaddafi will be making sure the chain is on the door tonight."
"Britain is all happy and celebratory and now the US - it's kind of like a street party..but...bigger. :-)"
"Now that everyone thinks I'm dead, I can go wherever I want! Anyone know if those Lord of the Rings sets are still up in New Zealand?"
"Am I the only one hearing "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" playing in my head right now?"
""I have never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." - Mark Twain"
"A prince gets married, the bad guy is dead. It's a real Disney weekend here on earth."
"Well they do say weddings and funerals often go together."
".... And that's how the USA out-does the royal wedding"
"That awkward moment when you get Osama and Obama mixed up"
"FOR SALE- 1 Turban,1pair of birkenstock sandals (brown) AK 47 assault rifle and Braun beard trimmer(never used)."
"Not sure how I feel about Twitter being only about a historical day in history. Does no one care about the leftover pizza I'm about to eat?"
"So who actually found Osama bin Laden? Was it the CIA -- or Google Street View?"
"Osama Bin Nada."
"1st of May US time bin laden announced dead, 1st of May 1945 Hitler announced dead. Conspiracy theorists assemble!"
"Oh great, the 9/11 conspiracy theorists are back. Wonderful."
"Hey usa its not all of you, remember australia, NZ and britan helping you on this war. We are not just the outsiders."
"Don't wanna be the Grinch about Osama -- but when Col Sanders died, KFC didn't disappear."
"R.I.P Osama Bin Laden - World Hide And Go Seek Champion (2001 - 2011)"
"With the huge crowd gathered outside the White House, Barack and Michelle should kiss on the balcony."
"Good-night. Sleep peacefully everyone. America Got 99 problems but Osama ain't one."
Anyone remember Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh? He was this nice terrorist man who kidnapped three Britons and an American in New Delhi back in 1994 and threatened to behead them if the Indian Government didn't release his little terrorist friends. Sheikh was arrested and incarcerated in an Indian prison.
Then on December 1999, a bunch of his friends hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 and demanded his release in exchange for the lives of the hundred ninety-three passengers and crew members on board. Sheikh was freed but, sadly, by then it was too late for one of the passengers. A 25 year old male on his honeymoon had been stabbed multiple times and later succumbed to his injuries. My cousins and I watched the story unfold in the news in Madurai at my uncle's house. It almost ruined the Christmas break for us.
Sheikh went on to kidnap American Journalist, Daniel Pearl. People all over the world watched and waited, hoping and praying for Pearl's release. I was one among those people, watching the news anxiously. We all know how that sad story ended.
Shiekh was again arrested and is currently awaiting his execution in a Pakistani prison. Even while incarcerated he's caused a lot of trouble. According to the Pakistani newspaper, Dawn, in 2008, he prank-called the President of Pakistan, pretending to be India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and almost caused a major war. True story. Only he didn't mean it as a friendly April Fool's joke.
What I'm trying to say is that the US Forces killing Osama bin Laden without trial might have been the safest thing to do. I only hope that he's really dead; to be honest, the buried-at-sea story is a bit too wonky for me.
On a lighter note, NZ Herald has put up some tweets relating to the incident. Here are some of my favourites:
"Wow Osama Bin Laden is dead. Cause of death? Dunno...but I am secretly hoping a giant plane flew into him"
"He never should've facebooked those photos from easter weekend."
"Saddam? Check. Osama? Check. I bet Gaddafi will be making sure the chain is on the door tonight."
"Britain is all happy and celebratory and now the US - it's kind of like a street party..but...bigger. :-)"
"Now that everyone thinks I'm dead, I can go wherever I want! Anyone know if those Lord of the Rings sets are still up in New Zealand?"
"Am I the only one hearing "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" playing in my head right now?"
""I have never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." - Mark Twain"
"A prince gets married, the bad guy is dead. It's a real Disney weekend here on earth."
"Well they do say weddings and funerals often go together."
".... And that's how the USA out-does the royal wedding"
"That awkward moment when you get Osama and Obama mixed up"
"FOR SALE- 1 Turban,1pair of birkenstock sandals (brown) AK 47 assault rifle and Braun beard trimmer(never used)."
"Not sure how I feel about Twitter being only about a historical day in history. Does no one care about the leftover pizza I'm about to eat?"
"So who actually found Osama bin Laden? Was it the CIA -- or Google Street View?"
"Osama Bin Nada."
"1st of May US time bin laden announced dead, 1st of May 1945 Hitler announced dead. Conspiracy theorists assemble!"
"Oh great, the 9/11 conspiracy theorists are back. Wonderful."
"Hey usa its not all of you, remember australia, NZ and britan helping you on this war. We are not just the outsiders."
"Don't wanna be the Grinch about Osama -- but when Col Sanders died, KFC didn't disappear."
"R.I.P Osama Bin Laden - World Hide And Go Seek Champion (2001 - 2011)"
"With the huge crowd gathered outside the White House, Barack and Michelle should kiss on the balcony."
"Good-night. Sleep peacefully everyone. America Got 99 problems but Osama ain't one."
2 comments:
Wonky indeed! But that is a discussion for a different day.
All I feel now is a somber sense of justice. It was not right that he ran free planning to kill after already killing so many. Now he can no longer engage in his murderous plots. His death will bring no one back to life, but it might save some lives. And no doubt his death will inspire more murderers....The tragedy will continue long after he is gone.
But we know that the light of the wicked will be put out, and that our God will some day make all things right. Until then the words for my heart have been these:
"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
lest the LORD see it and be displeased,and turn away his anger from him.
Fret not yourself because of evildoers,and be not envious of the wicked,
for the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out." Proverbs 24:17-20
Thank you for reading, Laurie. To be honest, I was and still am quite happy about it. My happiness comes not so much from a feeling that justice had been served but from a sense of relief that now further mass murders by Osama have been prevented. And I feel, perhaps naively, that Al Qaeda is now weak and can be defeated.
But then I also feel terrible for Osama and where he is now. He is just another human being like you and me, after all.
It's weird feeling so conflicted.
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