This evening, we got the astounding news that The United States of America has killed Osama Bin Laden. At once I am flooded with a series of emotions. My first thought when the breaking news bulletin preempted the Celebrity Apprentice was that someone had got Gadafi, however quickly, George Gregory corrected me, telling us that first President Obama would make an “announcement” about bin Laden, followed shortly by confirmation that he was dead at the hands of American special forces. At once I was relieved that this monster was dead. However, this feeling did not linger long. I was quickly overcome by doubts about the American role in an assassination of a major world leader—horrible as he may be. Just last night, we learned that one of Gadafi’s sons was killed along with two grandchildren. Assassination is not the role of an exceptional nation. Participating in such an act means that we have joined the ranks of lesser nations, not worthy of the founding ideal that all people, no matter how evil, deserve justice.
President Obama was just on TV telling us the details of the operation which began with a tip in August. He used the word, “Justice”, more than a half dozen times. Is what happened late this evening justice? There is no doubt in my mind that bin Laden is guilty of heinous crimes against humanity. I remember waking up the morning of September 11th, 2001—10 years ago—to the news that a plane had struck the side of the World Trade Center. Those emotional wounds are open fresh again. If we killed bin Laden in retribution for the thousands of lives he helped take that morning, certainly we have our pound of flesh, taken the eye and tooth we are owed. That however leaves me hollow, remembering only the words of Dr. King:
The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiples it…so it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
We may have received our pound of flesh, this just doesn’t feel like justice to me this evening.
