By now, we’ve all had some time to process the death of Osama bin Laden. Nearly every social group in which I’m involved has addressed in one way or another this monumental event in our world’s history. Many thoughts are still half-formed, simmering and processing as news continues to pour in hourly.
“Where were you when you heard the news?” was one of the questions buzzing on Twitter just moments after the announcement was made on TV. One fellow North Dakota mother responded: “Snuggling my 10-month-old.” I was finishing up some Sunday-night paperwork when my husband called me into his man cave (music/exercise/TV room), where we watched together the quickly unfolding details, trying to make sense of them coming so closely on the heels of Blessed John Paul II’s beatification. Many of us will remember where we were on that tragic day of September 11, 2001, and this as well.
But perhaps as much as anything else, and apart from the actual news itself, I will remember my confusion. Certainly, there was confusion on 9-11-01 as well, not to mention great fear. This time, my disorientation surrounded the fact that we have been anticipating this day for nearly a decade, and yet, now that it’s come, it’s obvious we’re not fully equipped to respond appropriately.
Times like this, it seems to me, is when we catch a glimpse of how the faithful process the world and its events differently than our non-believing counterparts, though our responses still vary individually. The worldly have, in large part, a certain collective reaction. But the Christian is called to go a step further and not just process such a thing fully on emotion, but through the lens of faith. Hopefully, if we are living our faith in an authentic way, our gut response will not be the one that persists. There is always more to consider the moment faith enters in.
For example, the dancing in the streets; while I could understand that initial reaction to some degree, I and many others with whom I talked shortly afterward found it distressing. We remember all too well when things were reversed, and others from other worlds were dancing and celebrating at our expense. How can we, then, do the same? And how can we feel truly vindicated by another death?
I was relieved to read an article from the Catholic News Service the same day I learned of Osama’s death: “Vatican says bin Laden’s death cause for reflection, not rejoicing.” How grateful I was to learn other Christians might be feeling similarly to me; that even though initially there may have been a sense of victory, it did not persist.
Just before Easter I talked about the dichotomies involved in the faith life — suffering leading to death, and death leading to life. What we see at first is not always what we’re meant to take away. The death of a terrorist, while bringing some initial relief, doesn’t completely wipe away the wrong that was committed. It’s not that simple. Instead, we’re left with temporary relief, only to realize in the next breath that the death brings with it new implications, new things to worry over, and not an enduring sense of peace and justice.
Aside from Twitter and email, I took part in a discussion on Facebook the day following the announcement. One of my favorite quotes to emerge there was one from Martin Luther King, Jr., who so succinctly describes my feelings:
[Post-composition update: As reader Adam points out below, this quote was made up and attributed to MLK by its creator. Who knew? It still resonates so I’ll leave it in, but with that caveat of deceit surrounding it…*sigh*…]
And really, that’s what we’re left with, I think. We are not freed from any of the questions we had prior to Osama bin Laden’s death. I’m not saying that ridding the world of one demented man does not lead to a safer world, but neither is there an assurance that it will. Either way, I have to side with MLK here and be left not with a feeling of exaltation, but rumination. And always, always, the need to bend down in prayer and ask that God be with us, now and forever.
Q4U: Where were you when you learned the news of Osama bin Laden’s death?
In bed, Mon. morning, heard it on the radio. Stunned. Not rejoicing, think, wow, what will this mean for the world, terror, wars, and vengence. I think public enemy #2 is alive and well in Libya, still killing. The world’s a mess. I also wondered what God had to say to Osama when he crossed over.
At the end of a monumental day, and I took in the news and felt very little about the whole thing. Maybe I can find some closure in the fact that they found him, but yes, the celebration aspect just didn’t sit well with me. But you’ve articulated this so well Roxane and I appreciate the MLK JR quote and its wisdom.
Thanks for an informative and insightful perspective as always!
Thanks for this. I posted a compilation of similarly reflective responses here: http://theprojectfm.org/2011/05/love-your-enemies-really/
One note, though, re the MLK Jr. quote. It’s a crazy Internet story, but it’s not really what he said. Well, part of it is, but part isn’t. Here’s the story on that: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/05/out-of-osamas-death-a-fake-quotation-is-born/238220/
Peace and thanks.
Beautifully put Roxane – thanks for your usual thoughtful and generous writing. It is a gift in these times.
Mary, thanks for your thoughtful sharing. Yes, I, too wonder what God’s response to OBL was.
Vicky, all in perspective. Your concerns are much more close to home, I realize, and this less relevant at the moment, though I’m sure you’re still impacted. Focus on inner peace, right?
Adam, duly noted and mentioned in the post; thanks!
Fran, you are welcome, dear peace-loving lady. 🙂
I think this is a very well written and thought provoking article, Roxane. I will disagree with one major point. You remind us of the dancing in the street after 9/11. And how can we celebrate another person’s death the same way? I don’t think these can be compared. The celebration of the deaths of 3000 innocent New York citizens is much different from the “celebration” of the capture/killing/elimination of an enemy combatant who has declared war on the United States. Personally, I am happily relieved and do not mourn the death of Osama bin Laden.
Betsy, thanks for stopping by. Actually, we’re not disagreeing. It is different. I didn’t expound on that point but I take no issue with it. It’s very different. I raised the issue that it’s much different when someone is celebrating at your expense, but the two situations are vastly different, true. I’m not mourning Osama bin Laden’s death, either, to clarify. I can’t full-out celebrate it though, either. I understand what the elation was about and it’s not completely wrong to feel some sense of relief. But in some places it seemed a bit much, and didn’t sit well with me. It just feels more like a time to be reflective, as the Vatican article mentioned.
I was writing something..or reading something..already I cannot remember. I considered it a non news event. As for the celebrations at the news of his death..I could not understand the why of that. I alway like to remember to celebrate the life of an individual and not their death. So for me the celebration scenes made no sense whatsoever. Perhaps it would have been different if I had lost a close relative in 2001.
I felt sorry for his family..and scared because he had many followers who hate the United States..so for my children and yours I felt fear…and to me that is no reason to celebrate either..just an old ladies view:)
Mmmm… thought provoking conversations here.
Does God not mourn the death of any and all of his creatures and children? Was OBL not one of God’s children?
While OBL willfully chose to disobey God’s commandment to love one another, he was still God’s beloved child. This is not meant to glorify someone who did monstrous things, but it does call into question our responses.
I am reminded of the parable of the prodigal son… If anyone chooses, even in the last moment of their life to turn back to the God who awaits our response, that God – unless I am really misunderstanding God – receives with open arms.
Isn’t that the real challenge of Christ? To forgive one and all, the command to love one another, including and perhaps our enemies. The idea of a heaven that could include Hitler, Stalin, Bin Ladin – well that is the challenge, isn’t it? Can we stomach that that might be the case? I have a hard time with it, but have come to accept that it is most likely what we might find.
Fran, trying this from my new phone which could be a challenge, but you’re right, I think. We never truly know what’s in the heart of another; God alone knows the whole of us, even better than we do in fact. I do think there will be some surprises in heaven.
I appreciated the resolve to frame this discussion in terms of how Jesus would treat of the death of a one who has chosen death as the solution to enmity. Bin Laden voted for the death of so many sub-classes of the human race and in an ironic Venn diagram analysis of course could not exclude himself from his own evil. We have to build the Venn diagrams back out to make the human species truly humane. Thanks for aiding our process of mourning the death of so many at the hands of those who choose death over life. God bless. Rick Hilber