Make no mistake, I am glad bin Laden is dead, it was necessary. But I have conflicting thoughts as well.
I have to admit that I was discomfited by the news that people were chanting "USA! USA! USA!" and breaking out the champagne in locations coast to coast. I also understand the sense of closure for those touched by the 9/11 attacks and our country as a while.
It's good to see our country brought together again, but I wish it was something less momentary, something less... (searching for words)... something with less death involved.
I thought the President's remarks were spot on when he mentioned the numbers of Muslims that bin Laden killed directly or indirectly. Americans aren't the only ones to have suffered at the hands of this mad man... or dare I say, "believer"? (Basically a person who believes his cause is so just that any means to achieve its ends will create a better world for all.)
In no way do I think that bin Laden didn't meet a fitting end, but I feel more somber and reflective than celebratory. I appreciate how the Navy Seals and other military members carried out their mission effectively and quietly, without great fanfare. They did their jobs as so many of us in the Armed Forces do willingly.
I do not know what this means for us as a country, our status in the world and the safety of our citizens both at home and abroad, but it's certainly worth a moment's pause to consider the ramifications.
On Facebook, I posted a status of "Thoughts on Bin Laden being killed... 1) ding dong the witch is dead, 2) our long national nightmare is over... 3)... or not."
I wasn't hesitant to be glad or relieved when the news broke. But I was reluctant to cheer and not anywhere near ready to think that terrorism, getting TSA'ed, etc was over. Now it just remains to be seen how the world as a body reacts to this momentous event since he wasn't just our enemy... he was an enemy of the entire world.
At least for the time being, Americans will have to remain vigilant since all the little wind-up dolls that bin Laden has launched are out there. Whether they were directly launched by him or indirectly kicked into action by his inspirational existence remains to be seen. However, I don't think that the terrorism problem will magically disappear. In recent years, Al Qaeda has become much less centralized and perhaps more dangerous because of it. Instead of having one monolithic structure to battle, we are left playing terrorist whack-a-mole. Who knows what ends devotees of the fallen martyr (which he is certain to become) will do.
I am also sorry for the woman who was killed in the compound. The power of women is so diminished in that part of the world, she likely had no choice in being a shield for one of these "manly" Al Qaeda fellas. She was most likely grabbed against her will and the loss of her life shows that she was worth more as a shield than anything else... one of the expendables.
So history continues to roll on. I will continue to knit and watch and serve my county as called to do.