Osama Bin Laden's Death and My (unpatriotic?) Reaction

"Are we seeking power for power's sake? Or are we seeking to make the world and our nation better places to live. If we seek the latter, violence can never provide the answer. The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, 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."
A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.

For almost 3 years now I have lived outside of the U.S. During that time, I have spent significant time in Europe, (Spain) Africa (Uganda) and Oceania (New Zealand). From a new perspective, I have learned quite a bit about my country and what foreigners think about it, as well. I have spoken to people with very strong opinions and those who have little interest in what America does outside of its implications for them personally. I have also heard from people who put my knowledge of American politics to shame.

Living outside of the U.S has given me the opportunity to be an observer and I'd like to think, more open to opinions or thoughts not felt or not expressed while living and working in a small Michigan suburb. There have been many times I've felt subject to scrutiny and respect just for being an American. I can recall several instances where within minutes of meeting someone, I was told why "most Americans, not you of course (uh...ok) are ignorant, ethnocentric, etc. Other moments, specifically in Spain and Uganda around the time of Obama being sworn in as president, I was congratulated and privileged (or forced, however you want to look at it) to hear why Americans were so great and why our country was the best in the World. I feel both the respect and the scrutiny by people who know nothing about me is undeserving.

Thankfully most people, like many Americans, don’t lump an entire nation as one. I am aware however, that at times I have stood as a representative of over 250 million people and for conversation’s sake, been the spokesperson for an entire country. I’d like to think that in those instances, I do a fair job representing what an American is; open-minded, respectful of other cultures, and interested in world events. It also terrifies me to think that some Americans I know could be put in the same situation and viewed as “the typical American” spewing off a host of ignorant or rude statements.

Watching the Osama Bin Laden coverage from India and discussing it with Indians, South Africans, Kiwis and Brits has again provided me with a different perspective than had I experienced the events surrounding his death in America. Perhaps this is why my first feelings were not of pride or satisfaction but sadness; I can’t help but feel a bit sad when I see thousands of Americans in the streets screaming “hey hey hey, goodbye,” jubilant over the death of a human being. I admit, I’m not upset to see a man who clearly hated others for being different now unable to cause more terror and spew hateful propoganda under the guise of “God’s word,” but I also don’t understand how so many Americans, half whom likely do not support the death penalty, feel a massive celebration is in order. Yes, Osama Bin Laden stands symbolically as the evil behind the destruction of the twin towers. Yes, this may be a very sobering hit to terrorist cells viewing Bin Laden as untouchable or somehow protected by Allah’s favor and yes, I understand that a public celebration might be for many who have lost loved ones in war or 9/11 a peaceful way to let out so much sadness, anger and frustration. But is this justice? Will these celebrations seen not only by those who lost loved ones in 9/11 but those who continue to lose lives from American bombings and “collateral damage” raids, bring long term peace?

My unwillingness to rejoice or lack of understanding comes from what I think of as the hypocrisy of these demonstrations and outdoor celebrations. We have watched celebrations like these done by Muslims who believe the death of American soldiers brings justice to their loved ones and American media has condemned them. Some of these "celebrants have seen their families killed by American bombs or in some cases, unjustifiably murdered. Along with war comes trigger-happy young soldiers scared and unfamiliar with foreign people and foreign lands who invariably make horrible mistakes. What is the difference between their sadness and ours? What makes it ok to declare the death of one killer “justice” and the other simply a consequence of war?

When an American flag is burned, many of us are scared and angry at the inherent hatred we seem to think comes from Islamic countries yet our media shows images and video of Americans saying things including Bin Laden’s death is “a tribute to the millions of men and women in our armed forces and elsewhere who have fought so hard for our nation.” When did death become a tribute?

I don’t condone ANY act of terror and if I had to be honest, it probably is a better world with someone spewing so many messages of hate now unable to do so but does that make it right to send the message that killing is the answer or that killing is right? I hope that along with these messages of congratulations Americans continue to educate themselves on the issues and the reasons behind the evil of someone like Bin Laden. As one Senior Afghan official tells The Guardian’s Jon Boone;

"While thrilled to see the removal of the worst enemy of Islam who inflicted irreparable damage to image of Islam and Muslims, my concern is his death becomes the justification for US's premature disengagement from the region," one senior Afghan government official who specialises in foreign affairs said. "We should not forget the sad reality that the region has suffered immensely from al-Qaida and the early mistakes and policies of the West who helped his rise, though as an unintended consequences. We should also remember he left a sophisticated and extensive diffuse network in the region and thus the need to be cautious."

After reading an article written by Elisha Goldstein, her final comments stood out and seem to perfectly encompass my own feelings:

"So goodbye Osama Bin Laden may the families and friends who have suffered at your hands feel more at peace without you around. And may you be at peace with the wars that raged within you to the point where you held the misguided delusion that killing thousands of people was somehow a path in the right direction.

May we all be free from our misguided reactions to the wars within and help guide all people into a direction of greater empathy, compassion, and peace within ourselves and the world."