I have modified this post slightly to respond to and incorporate feedback from comments received to the original post. Many thanks to all who are contributing to the conversation. --Pamela
While the killing of Osama Bin Laden is being enthusiastically celebrated throughout America and some parts of the world, to say that such merriment is out of order will surely be considered heresy. Nonetheless, I'm saying it--because it needs to be said. For starters, let me say this: "Those of you who are celebrating--could you just pause for a moment and consider: What message are you sending the world?"
I certainly understand how those who have suffered from the events of 9/11 may feel relieved, even happy, to have "closure" after ten years of waiting for "justice to be done"--and I don't quarrel with such feelings. Closure is a natural yearning and can help people move on from serious trauma. And, of course, feelings are feelings. If you feel joyful, you feel joyful.
But celebration in the streets and on the airwaves is neither appropriate nor advisable--really--no matter what your feelings of elation. Here's why.
"Celebrating" the killing of any member of our species--for example, by chanting USA! USA! and singing The Star Spangled Banner outside the White House or jubilantly demonstrating in the streets--is a violation of human dignity. Regardless of the perceived degree of "good" or "evil" in any of us, we are all, each of us, human. To celebrate the killing of a life, any life, is a failure to honor life's inherent sanctity.
Plenty of people will argue that Osama Bin Laden did not respect the sanctity of others' lives. To that I would ask, "What relevance does that have to our own actions?" One aspect of being human is our ability to choose our own behavior; more specifically, our capacity to return good for evil, love for hate, dignity for indignity. While Osama Bin Laden was widely considered to be the personification of evil, he was nonetheless a human being. A more peaceable response to his killing would be to mourn the many tragedies that led up to his violent death and the thousands of violent deaths that occurred in the attempt to eliminate him from the face of the Earth; and to feel compassion for anyone who, because of their role in the military or government, American or otherwise, has had to play a role in killing another. This kind of compassion can be cultivated, as practitioners of many different spiritual traditions and humanistic philosophies will attest.
We are not a peaceful species. Nor are we a peaceful nation. The public celebrations of this killing throughout the country draw attention to these facts.
The death of Osama Bin Laden gives us an opportunity to ask ourselves: What kind of nation and what kind of species do we want to be? Do we want to become a species that honors life? Do we want to become a species that embodies peace? If that is what we want, then why not start now to examine our own hearts and actions, and begin to consciously evolve in that direction? We could start by not celebrating the killing of another.
It is hard not to think that some of the impulse to celebrate "justice being done" may also contain a certain pleasure in revenge--not just "closure" but "getting even." The world is not safer with Osama Bin Laden's violent demise (threat levels are going up, not down); evil has not been finally removed from the Earth; the War on Terror goes on--so any celebration must be tempered with the sobering fact that much work still needs to be done to establish peace. The truth is that "celebrating justice" when one person is killed--as happens regularly in the gang wars of American cities--only incites further desire for revenge, which, from "the other side's" viewpoint, is usually called "justice."
Consider this: If a leader in our country were killed in the manner in which Osama Bin Laden was killed, as "justice" for his acts of aggression in the War on Terror--and supporters of that act were shown proudly chanting their country's name, singing their national anthem, and demonstrating in the streets--Americans would likely feel more sickened than joyful, wouldn't you think? The impulse to celebrate a death depends on what side you're on.
The bottom line is that we cannot even begin to have peace until we stop the cycle of jubilation over acts of violence.
So isn't it time to ask: Who will stop the cycle? If not us, who? If not you and I, who will it be?
Do not ask for whom the bell tolls.
It tolls for thee.
--John Donne
Dr. Pamela Gerloff is co-author, with Robert W. Fuller, of Dignity for All: How to Create a World without Rankism (Berrett-Koehler).
© 2011 by Pamela Gerloff
Try taking a look at the War on (some) Terror by reading Anthony Burgess' essay "Is America Falling Apart?"
We live in other people's worlds, the points of view that seemed to make sense to them and they were situated in such a way so their way of living could be followed by others...it is a shame that all this hate and death is being thrown around the world still like it is water...don't people have mothers anymore? :3
I haven't any issue with a celebration of his death nor do I see it as being undignified to have sung our National Anthem or shouted USA. It provided a collective sigh of relief and some closure.
We are safer because there are people who are willing to risk their own lives to protect ours. The world has never been peaceful nor will it ever be. We are faced with the reality that some people will use force to try and acquire things that do not belong to them.
And I have to wonder if GOD punished many people in what Osama did to punish those who are as sinful and immoral into making that place a Sodom and Gomorrah.
GOD is so powerful He can use 'evil' and make it good. Man can't.
More than the death of an individual is being celebrated. It’s about preserving a way of life. People overcoming fears about the future. They’re reestablishing hope. They’re disparaging a terrorist ideology. They are sending a message that we will defend our home.
There is no right or appropriate emotion for this situation, celebratory or not. Grief is dealt with in many ways. Introductory psychology courses tell us that. Remaining silent maybe a reaction but it does not have to be mine. Mrs. Gerloff, please save the self-righteous indignation over Americas reaction.
Its good Mrs. Gerloff has a voice to speak to the human dignity of one man. Unfortunately, there are over 3000 9/11 victims who will never have that voice to speak on behalf of their own human dignity.
Winning a victory is not the same as winning a war. Winning a war is not the same as creating a culture of peace.
Every individual has the moral authority to raise these questions and offer their viewpoint regarding the answers to those questions. I am claiming mine.
By the way, there are other--and, evidence suggests, more effective--ways to "preserve a way of life, overcome fears about the future, and reestablish hope" than discharging emotions through public celebratory gatherings. Most people don't know of those ways. I expect to write about some of them in the future.
Thank you for your thoughts.
I have no love for any religious extremists. God who created us gave us the free will to chose what to believe or do. Anyone who misleads himself into believing that he can use force of arms to win victory for his brand of faith over others is deluded - and will cause untold harm to others unless he is stopped by those who have the courage and common sense to do so. Let us dance to the victory of the American Navy Seals who gave the world this chance to sleep a bit easier with Osama Bin Laden out of the way.
Let me start by saying I am totally relieved on Osama being out of action. I do support Ms. Pamela is her call to not celebrate the killing of another human being. We have to soberly say that it was distasteful to take a life but was necessary in this case to do so.
My question to you is: what is the brand of "way of life" that truly underlies the ideologies motivating the so-called Western world-powers? Perpetuating economic slavery will never bring long-term happiness or peace, as attested to by the French Revolution and many such others. Creating a humane society and promoting human values is what will bring lasting happiness.
My response is rather late, but I consider your question so important that I cannot ignore it. The western 'way of life' may be considered by some as economic enslavement. My view, however, is quite different. I started off in academics as a firebrand Marxist, but over the decades I have seen the misery imposed on people in socalled communist or socialist countries (Cuba is an on-going example). I consider ideological enslavement a much worse evil than 'economic slavery'. I believe that western democracy, for now, is the only system that, within limits, allows individuals to think against the system without molestation, or work their way out of poverty to build a better life for themselves. I would not like to live under a communist/socialist system where dictators (however benign) would tell me what to think or say. I think the challenge for western democracy is how to make modern capitalism more humane. What do you think?
No, we will never have peace until we stop jubilation over any acts of violence, no matter what reasons lay behind them, even if they seem justified. Acts of violence may be necessary, but honor the end, and the new beginning with compassion and heart. Do not celebrate the violent death of a man unconsciously, but conciously look to new life, to awareness.
There is so much ignorance in the world, clouded over with unchecked hate. So much misinformation and untruths. The very wisest can see this.
Until we see all as our brothers and sisters, until we can see beyond borders, and religions, until we can live steadfast in peace within our own selves, and forgive completely, no matter how terrible the crime seems, we will not find heaven on earth.
And while I am at it, I agree with Obama's decision not to release the photos of Bin Laden's death. We, as a nation, are savoring a mission accomplished, not reveling in the gruesomeness of the event. Rather, we are uniting in our love of country and patriotism, as we acknowledge the favor and greatness that God has bestowed upon the United States of America.
However, we do have the capacity to hold a moral position that disdains and repudiates personal vengeance and the delighting in the death of our enemies and, at the same time, happily recognize the end of a mortal threat like Bin Laden with a collective sigh of relief.
I believe the hand-wringing over America's actions is uncovering a much deeper threat to our society: a moral undercurrent that punishes anything that offends anyone, anywhere.
Humans are not a species - morals do not grow within DNA, but within the context of one's family and societal norms. When we lose our ability as a civil society to reason, to define ultimate right and wrong, and confront evil head-on when required, we are on the downward spiral to the lowest common denominator i.e. the least offending position that will still maintains our societal order. Mr. Chamberland tried this with Hitler - it does not work.
Collectively as a nation, we cannot stand if we lose our ability to define and stand for right - in the absolute sense - regardless of who it offends. There are men who operate outside the laws of reason, reasonableness, and human good. They can only be stopped by force.
Thank God we still have the collective moral will to see this and act accordingly.
Bingo.
Don't be so glum about the hope for peace. Celebrate! This is a victory.
Why are you assuming that these are celebrations about someone's death?
Lots of those young people have friends and family fighting in this war, and they want them home - soon.
To have a glum reaction to a victory may indicate a schizoid personality, or someone with low emotional affect.
Again, you are assuming the worst: that these are celebrations about blood lust and death. Sure, if that assumption were true, I would agree with your article. But I have no good reason to think your assumption true.
There are different people and different reactions, of course.
Are these celebrations about death or the hope for peace and the return of soldiers?
They are celebrating that Osama's plans to poison America's water supply and his other plans - now being exposed by the materials gathered in the raid - will not happen, or will be less likely.
Maybe they are wrong, and the danger is higher now; or maybe, in the long term view, the world is indeed safer, and they are right to celebrate. Just as the world was right to celebrate victory after World War Two.
In short, the celebrations are about the hope for peace, that our chances are better without this monster plotting another 9-11.