So, Osama...

kaesha

Anyone stay up to watch the president's announcement last night? Happy? Sad? Indifferent?

rayne779

I am happy, obvisouly...but more in shock than anything. I honestly never thought they would find him, let alone kill him.

Soon2BMrsSikes

I was asleep long before anything was announced. I'm actually a tiny bit annoyed that DH didn't wake me up for it.

I'm certainly happy about it. I think it's great news. A little on edge waiting to see what's going to happen next though.

ring_pop

Despite the evil of what he did in the terrorist attacks, I find it hard to celebrate a murder.

So while I'm happy for those who feel that justice was served, I'm thinking about everyone who had to die for this cause. This certainly isn't an end to the war on terror so I feel the need to pray for peace.

raynes

ring_pop:

Despite the evil of what he did in the terrorist attacks, I find it hard to celebrate a murder.

So while I'm happy for those who feel that justice was served, I'm thinking about everyone who had to die for this cause. This certainly isn't an end to the war on terror so I feel the need to pray for peace.

I agree with this.   I'm trying to find some words to add more, but I think ringy said it well.

ECHC829

respectfully disagree.... this man (monster) is the root of the senseless deaths of thousands and the cause for so many other acts of terror.  I see him no different than I see Hitler, so sorry, but good riddance.... I believe people like that should have their life card revoked the minute they think its okay to kill to anyone for "their greater good" or simply pure evil.

I do agree that the war is far from over, but this man got what he deserved.... actually, I think he probably got off easy....

 

Soon2BMrsSikes

EHayes1183:

respectfully disagree.... this man (monster) is the root of the senseless deaths of thousands and the cause for so many other acts of terror.  I see him no different than I see Hitler, so sorry, but good riddance.... I believe people like that should have their life card revoked the minute they think its okay to kill to anyone for "their greater good" or simply pure evil.

I do agree that the war is far from over, but this man got what he deserved.... actually, I think he probably got off easy....

 

I'm with Erinn on this one. There's still a long way to go, but I think the death of OBL is 100% a positive thing.

futuremrsofficer

I'm not sure what to think, other than what happens next. I'm overjoyed to see the reactions around the world though those are awesome.

abarber340

Kyle told me that he had been killed last night when he came to bed. I was in a Tylenol PM induced sleep and believe that all that I was able to muster up was "well that's good." I agree with EHayes and am happy to hear that he is gone. I know that this is definitely not the end to the war on terror, but it is good to know that the mastermind behind 9/11 is no longer with us.

rebaann

Happy is not the right word, but I'm not sure what is.  Relieved, maybe, or surprised?  It's a huge win for the current administration and I didn't think that we would ever find him.

MandeeFoFandee

Soon2BMrsSikes:

EHayes1183:

respectfully disagree.... this man (monster) is the root of the senseless deaths of thousands and the cause for so many other acts of terror.  I see him no different than I see Hitler, so sorry, but good riddance.... I believe people like that should have their life card revoked the minute they think its okay to kill to anyone for "their greater good" or simply pure evil.

I do agree that the war is far from over, but this man got what he deserved.... actually, I think he probably got off easy....

 

I'm with Erinn on this one. There's still a long way to go, but I think the death of OBL is 100% a positive thing.

agreed 100%. I think it's hard to understand where the joy and relief comes from in this situation if you're not a US citizen, honestly. that may sound ignorant to some, but the fear, sadness, and ultimate unity that we felt on 9/11 is now rectified, whether the war is over or not.

coming from a background of military members and having several friends who have served overseas during this war, I can honestly say that I know every single one of them feels so proud today to have been a part of this overall mission of the war on terror. it makes me happy for those who have lost family and friends since 9/11, because I know they must feel some sense of justice today.

Auguri

ring_pop:

Despite the evil of what he did in the terrorist attacks, I find it hard to celebrate a murder.

Not trying to be overly sensitive, but the use of the word murder rubs me the wrong way.  If you had said "the killing of another human" than maybe it wouldn't have come to me as being accusatory.  Not sure if that was intentional... 

Happy isn't the word to describe it and I'm not sure I can.  I just know that this will end anything.  The terror will still continue.  Our world won't go back to the way it was, no matter how many people die trying.

Bailey17

I 100% agree with every word both Erinn and Mandee said.

Auguri

I think this quote is fitting.

"I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.? - Mark Twain

Leo713

I agree with Erinn and all, I understand not wanting to celebrate death in general and won't dispute that if that's your belief, but my personal opinion is that the man deserved death and much worse.

E had an interesting thought, he didn't like the sight of people cheering and singing outside the White House and in NYC because, even though it's an accomplishment, so many awful and wrong things happened in the pursuit.  He put it like this:

"Suppose I decided to learn to play Stairway to Heaven on the guitar.  I kept trying and trying and along the way we got divorced, I lost an arm, I lost my job and went bankrupt and none of my friends wanted to associate with me anymore.  In the end, I learned how to play it but it would be tough to celebrate after all that."

I got where he was coming from but I still think it's worth celebrating the accomplishment, especially BECAUSE of all that happened - it would be much more of a shame to have had it all happen in vain.  If anything it's a reason to unite a very divided partisan country right now.  In the end we agreed to disagree. 

cortneyloo

I'm not happy per se, maybe a little relieved (not exactly the right word but I don't know what is) that after all these years of war something has come out of it since I know some friends in the military that have honestly told me they felt at times they really weren't serving much of a purpose over there. I guess it's hard to feel overjoyed though when I know this news could have serious repercussions seeing as how Osama assumed someone else to his role years ago in case of this very situation. I'm sure losing a leader at the hands of Americans isn't going to sit well with terrorists and I'm just praying that we don't see an even worse attack on our country following this.

snoopy3319

I feel cautiously relieved I think. There always seem to be something out there just waiting to make life miserable. Until there is complete peace, I don't think we should rejoice too much. I am very glad that our troops finally can feel the relief they've been waiting for. I am very proud as an American for what our country can pull together to do.

karimychel

I got off the plane last night and was trying to see what all the hoopla was about around the TV's.

I am with Mandee and Erinn on this one. I have lost friends, and friends have lost loved ones during Sept. 11th as well as the war. Though I know Osama's death will not bring any of them back, I kind of feel like it's a little bit of closure that they didn't die for nothing.

That being said, I'm scared to death of what will happen in the future because of this.

raynes

MandeeFoFandee:

agreed 100%. I think it's hard to understand where the joy and relief comes from in this situation if you're not a US citizen, honestly. that may sound ignorant to some, but the fear, sadness, and ultimate unity that we felt on 9/11 is now rectified, whether the war is over or not.

I think, at least for me, that this might be part of it.  Maybe we just don't get in the same way because it didn't happen to us as directly.

SusiOT

rebaann:

Happy is not the right word, but I'm not sure what is.  Relieved, maybe, or surprised?  It's a huge win for the current administration and I didn't think that we would ever find him.

This, mostly trending to surprise. It also has me a little nervous, wondering what's next since OBL being gone doesn't mean al Qaeda's gone.

eeeeva

SusiOT:

rebaann:

Happy is not the right word, but I'm not sure what is.  Relieved, maybe, or surprised?  It's a huge win for the current administration and I didn't think that we would ever find him.

This, mostly trending to surprise. It also has me a little nervous, wondering what's next since OBL being gone doesn't mean al Qaeda's gone.

 

I'm feeling a bit like the comments above.

kaesha

I'm going to be honest, I'm kinda at war with myself over this one. On the one hand, I'm glad he's gone. But, like ringy, I too am uncomfortable, even in the face of evil, with the prospect of killing another human being. Whether you want to call it murder or assassination or killing is really semantics. At the end of the day, he's dead, you know? And then I had this thought that, every time we see those riots in the Middle East celebrating the death of Canadian or American or British troops, they feel the exact same blood lust and sense of vegence that we are in this moment.

That makes me very uncomfortable with myself.

And then I think of one of my friends whose sister was the first female Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan, and I'm angry, because I don't believe killing Osama was worth my friend losing her sister. If you told me that killing him meant that they'd be killing her too, I would have happily wished him a long life, you know?

Ultimately, I don't think this changes anything in the world. Afghanistan is still a total mess. Terror hasn't gone anywhere. His victims are still dead, and, more likely that not, I'm worried like some will begin to see him as a martyr.

The whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

ECHC829

kaesha:

I'm going to be honest, I'm kinda at war with myself over this one. On the one hand, I'm glad he's gone. But, like ringy, I too am uncomfortable, even in the face of evil, with the prospect of killing another human being. Whether you want to call it murder or assassination or killing is really semantics. At the end of the day, he's dead, you know? And then I had this thought that, every time we see those riots in the Middle East celebrating the death of Canadian or American or British troops, they feel the exact same blood lust and sense of vegence that we are in this moment.

That makes me very uncomfortable with myself.

And then I think of one of my friends whose sister was the first female Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan, and I'm angry, because I don't believe killing Osama was worth my friend losing her sister. If you told me that killing him meant that they'd be killing her too, I would have happily wished him a long life, you know?

Ultimately, I don't think this changes anything in the world. Afghanistan is still a total mess. Terror hasn't gone anywhere. His victims are still dead, and, more likely that not, I'm worried like some will begin to see him as a martyr.

The whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I'm not arguing your feelings surrounding this... but what is the alternative??  Not searching for him, letting him be... allowing him to continue to plan heinous attacks on innocent people for his warped and evil agenda, his figure head that allow al-queda members to act in his honor (which I agree will continue)...  

to be like Leo for a minute.... if a man kidnapped, raped, and killed a child (or any other heinous crime)  and we knew who he was and where he lived, do you think he should be allowed to live freely without repercussion because taking a life of another human -regardless of how they treat human life- is "wrong"??  

I think everyone realizes his death isn't going to bring back those that he killed or that died in the war he created, but there is some sort of redemption knowing that he didn't get away with it.  That evil will not be tolerated.  I'm not supporting eye for an eye... but this scenario is just too grand.  I take solace knowing this monster is no longer on our planet....

 

.... I've also been watching a lot of Dexter.

kaesha

I don't think I said anything about there not being consequences. I'm all about consequences. The only alternative I can see would be capture and solitary confinement for the rest of his life.

I'm not disputing that I'm happy he's gone, but I am not going to pretend that this is a black and white issue for me, because it's not. Someone else has already taken his place and that cycle of violence is just going to continue as it always has.

Out of curiosity, I know we have stats for military fatalities in Afghanistan, but do we have those stats for Afghan civilians, military and insurgents? I'd be curious to know just what the death toll of human life (regardless of sides) has been in the past decade.

Soon2BMrsSikes

kaesha:

I don't think I said anything about there not being consequences. I'm all about consequences. The only alternative I can see would be capture and solitary confinement for the rest of his life.

I'm not disputing that I'm happy he's gone, but I am not going to pretend that this is a black and white issue for me, because it's not. Someone else has already taken his place and that cycle of violence is just going to continue as it always has.

Out of curiosity, I know we have stats for military fatalities in Afghanistan, but do we have those stats for Afghan civilians, military and insurgents? I'd be curious to know just what the death toll of human life (regardless of sides) has been in the past decade.

I did read that they gave him the option to surrender and he refused. They didn't go in there and just shoot him without giving him the chance to surrender and be captured. So in that case, he made the choice to be killed.

ring_pop

kaesha:

I'm going to be honest, I'm kinda at war with myself over this one. On the one hand, I'm glad he's gone. But, like ringy, I too am uncomfortable, even in the face of evil, with the prospect of killing another human being. Whether you want to call it murder or assassination or killing is really semantics. At the end of the day, he's dead, you know? And then I had this thought that, every time we see those riots in the Middle East celebrating the death of Canadian or American or British troops, they feel the exact same blood lust and sense of vegence that we are in this moment.

That makes me very uncomfortable with myself.

And then I think of one of my friends whose sister was the first female Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan, and I'm angry, because I don't believe killing Osama was worth my friend losing her sister. If you told me that killing him meant that they'd be killing her too, I would have happily wished him a long life, you know?

Ultimately, I don't think this changes anything in the world. Afghanistan is still a total mess. Terror hasn't gone anywhere. His victims are still dead, and, more likely that not, I'm worried like some will begin to see him as a martyr.

The whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

kaesha, you put it my exact thoughts into words much better than I did.

I'm sorry if my wording caused any offense; it was not meant to be accusatory but I understand it was perhaps a poor choice of words.

Osama was an evil man who murdered thousands of innocent people, that was a horrible crime. It's not that I'm saddened by his death... I'm just having a hard time seeing it as a huge victory, given the grand scheme of the conflicts between the Arab and western worlds.

My mood today is reflective, a little bit sombre, a little bit relieved, but not jubilant.

abarber340

Soon2BMrsSikes:

kaesha:

I don't think I said anything about there not being consequences. I'm all about consequences. The only alternative I can see would be capture and solitary confinement for the rest of his life.

I'm not disputing that I'm happy he's gone, but I am not going to pretend that this is a black and white issue for me, because it's not. Someone else has already taken his place and that cycle of violence is just going to continue as it always has.

Out of curiosity, I know we have stats for military fatalities in Afghanistan, but do we have those stats for Afghan civilians, military and insurgents? I'd be curious to know just what the death toll of human life (regardless of sides) has been in the past decade.

I did read that they gave him the option to surrender and he refused. They didn't go in there and just shoot him without giving him the chance to surrender and be captured. So in that case, he made the choice to be killed.

I read this as well. In fact I read that they gave him the chance to surrender and instead he chose to fire on the Navy SEALS. Therefore they were left with no choice but to return fire. 

kaesha

Well, that would certainly ease part of my concerns. I'm looking forward to the whole story coming out. Every time I've heard the news, they're saying something different.

MandeeFoFandee

Soon2BMrsSikes:

kaesha:

I don't think I said anything about there not being consequences. I'm all about consequences. The only alternative I can see would be capture and solitary confinement for the rest of his life.

I'm not disputing that I'm happy he's gone, but I am not going to pretend that this is a black and white issue for me, because it's not. Someone else has already taken his place and that cycle of violence is just going to continue as it always has.

Out of curiosity, I know we have stats for military fatalities in Afghanistan, but do we have those stats for Afghan civilians, military and insurgents? I'd be curious to know just what the death toll of human life (regardless of sides) has been in the past decade.

I did read that they gave him the option to surrender and he refused. They didn't go in there and just shoot him without giving him the chance to surrender and be captured. So in that case, he made the choice to be killed.

this.

in my mind, he made the choice to be killed the moment he made the plan to kill thousands of people with the 9/11 attacks... not even counting the countless deaths (both US and foreign) accrued because of the war. he could have turned himself in at any time. he could have surrendered if he'd wanted to live. he could have chosen solitary confinement. but he didn't... he continued to fight until the last moments of his life when he shot at our troops who discovered him. in my opinion, killing him wasn't "murder," it was precautionary self defense.

 

kaesha

ring_pop:

kaesha:

I'm going to be honest, I'm kinda at war with myself over this one. On the one hand, I'm glad he's gone. But, like ringy, I too am uncomfortable, even in the face of evil, with the prospect of killing another human being. Whether you want to call it murder or assassination or killing is really semantics. At the end of the day, he's dead, you know? And then I had this thought that, every time we see those riots in the Middle East celebrating the death of Canadian or American or British troops, they feel the exact same blood lust and sense of vegence that we are in this moment.

That makes me very uncomfortable with myself.

And then I think of one of my friends whose sister was the first female Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan, and I'm angry, because I don't believe killing Osama was worth my friend losing her sister. If you told me that killing him meant that they'd be killing her too, I would have happily wished him a long life, you know?

Ultimately, I don't think this changes anything in the world. Afghanistan is still a total mess. Terror hasn't gone anywhere. His victims are still dead, and, more likely that not, I'm worried like some will begin to see him as a martyr.

The whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

kaesha, you put it my exact thoughts into words much better than I did.

I'm sorry if my wording caused any offense; it was not meant to be accusatory but I understand it was perhaps a poor choice of words.

Osama was an evil man who murdered thousands of innocent people, that was a horrible crime. It's not that I'm saddened by his death... I'm just having a hard time seeing it as a huge victory, given the grand scheme of the conflicts between the Arab and western worlds.

My mood today is reflective, a little bit sombre, a little bit relieved, but not jubilant.

Sombre. That's a good word for it. Just thinking about it on the subway, I couldn't help but wonder - if he chose to die, would that mean the crueler thing to do would be to have captured him? I dunno. Anyway off to vote in our federal election. Huzzah for freedom and democracy!

birdsandships

I suppose the timing of it all is causing me some emotional confusion. 10 years, and a trillion dollars later, he is dead. Not to mention civilian and military lives lost. It's hard to be excited about something when the cost is so high.

I think I am more angry? disappointed? in some of the speech rhetoric. The "justice has been served" line really rubs me the wrong way. It's great for stirring up everyone, and restoring a sense of passionate patriotism initially, but it also implies a sense of completion and complacency, which I think is really dangerous here. Sure, one bad guy (albeit a really bad one) was taken out of the picture, but there's still more bad guys out there. This wasn't a cure-all. It's hard for me to celebrate because of that as well. 

The blood lust has been the most difficult to handle. I'm avoiding facebook due to all the requests to parade his body, view photographs, etc.