(no subject)
Osama is dead. Now what?
As edwarddain pointed out to me moments ago, "the war against terror" and the hunt for bin Laden has been the backdrop of my formative years. I had just turned 14 two days before 9/11; the fact that I was in Canada at the time had a profound impact on the construction, deconstruction, and change of my patriotism. If the Iraq war had not happened, I probably would have followed 60+ years of family military service - I'd been essentially planning on it and thinking about what I wanted to do in the military for years at that point. I also grew up convinced that WWIII would break out any moment, and my mother would be recalled and have to go back to war.
Now, people are chanting "U.S.A." outside the White House. Why?
Bin Laden's death is not a triumphant success to me. It's not an end, it's not a resolution. It's one more despicable death in a series of tragedies. Yes, he committed acts of terrorism against the US - multiple acts, not just 9/11. But we've committed grievous acts against other nations and people; what makes us any different - the fact that we have the might of an enormously powerful nation behind us? Does might truly make right?
Why are so many people rejoicing over this man's death? Will it stop the violence? Will it stop the wars? The terrorism, the arrogance? Will other nations stop hating the United States, Americans, and everything we purport to represent merely because of the death of one man? I rather suspect not.
I'm truly torn over this. I'm afraid that we've just made an important martyr for terrorist organizations. I'm afraid that with bin Laden's death, America will regain its presumption of infallibility and untouchability.
Nothing has changed. At least, not yet. I will be looking to Obama to see how he chooses to lead the nation's reaction.
As edwarddain pointed out to me moments ago, "the war against terror" and the hunt for bin Laden has been the backdrop of my formative years. I had just turned 14 two days before 9/11; the fact that I was in Canada at the time had a profound impact on the construction, deconstruction, and change of my patriotism. If the Iraq war had not happened, I probably would have followed 60+ years of family military service - I'd been essentially planning on it and thinking about what I wanted to do in the military for years at that point. I also grew up convinced that WWIII would break out any moment, and my mother would be recalled and have to go back to war.
Now, people are chanting "U.S.A." outside the White House. Why?
Bin Laden's death is not a triumphant success to me. It's not an end, it's not a resolution. It's one more despicable death in a series of tragedies. Yes, he committed acts of terrorism against the US - multiple acts, not just 9/11. But we've committed grievous acts against other nations and people; what makes us any different - the fact that we have the might of an enormously powerful nation behind us? Does might truly make right?
Why are so many people rejoicing over this man's death? Will it stop the violence? Will it stop the wars? The terrorism, the arrogance? Will other nations stop hating the United States, Americans, and everything we purport to represent merely because of the death of one man? I rather suspect not.
I'm truly torn over this. I'm afraid that we've just made an important martyr for terrorist organizations. I'm afraid that with bin Laden's death, America will regain its presumption of infallibility and untouchability.
Nothing has changed. At least, not yet. I will be looking to Obama to see how he chooses to lead the nation's reaction.