I am about to write a piece that simply needs to be written. I know where it starts. The ending unclear as of yet. However, I know wherever it goes I must write it. Please be advised that what you are about to read may invoke strong emotions. This can not be helped, for it is these emotions that bring on healing. Emotions caused me to begin writing after the death of my grandfather. The Nation’s healing starts today.
Late last night the World received news of the death of Osama Bin Laden. A wicked evil man whom brought great pain and suffering upon far too many is now dead.
I, Like so many others in America, recall exactly where I was on September 11th when I heard the news. The Towers fell. Where were you when the World stopped turning?
Still today, those emotions come flooding back when I think about the horror that was brought down on my beloved Country by the actions of one man. The anger. The outright hatred. The need for revenge. The sadness. The pain. The tears. The empathy for those families who lost loved ones that day. All these emotions and more were felt all across the Nation on that September day.
Do you recall September 12th? I do. I remember the ground swell feeling of National Pride in the Country. The unity of purpose we felt on that day. It was a great feeling. Unfortunately, far too many people fell back asleep and quickly forgot about it all. I, for one, did not fall asleep and neither has our Military.
It was truly the 12th of September that the World, more specifically the United States, was forever changed by the actions started by one man. Some think this change happened on September 11th. No, the Country was in total shock on the 11th.
Today, on the 2nd of May, the day after US Soldiers delivered Justice to Osama Bin Laden on behalf of The United States of America, those emotions begin to well up again. This time the feeling is bitter sweet. For today we have conflicting emotions. Today is a jubilant, celebratory day for the people of the United States. The man behind the largest attack on the United States of America since Pearl Harbor has finally been delivered justice for his actions.
Listening to the news coverage and hearing the chants of USA! USA! USA! brings me mixed emotions. I am proud of our people coming together on one issue. Together with unity of purpose. Celebrating the spilling of blood. The death of a very wicked man. This image in my head has me upset. Not that Bin Laden is now dead, but rather because I recall this same jubilant celebratory behavior exhibited by terrorist extremest when the Towers fell.
Ezekiel 33:11 (New King James Version)
11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
Justice has been done. As the Father in Heaven takes no pleasure in the death, neither should we.
It is not the job of the soldier to judge a man’s evil deeds. It is the soldier’s job to arrange the evil man’s meeting with God. For all shall stand before God and await Judgment.
God bless the United States Military. We are truly blessed to have such fine men and women standing guard that We might sleep worry free. I salute you.
—@QBall45
djghettoredneck
May 2, 2011 at 11:03 pmVery good read. I too felt guilt for the rejoicing of this death.
JavaBratt
May 2, 2011 at 11:10 pmExtremely well written. Thank you so much for sharing!
Sylvia Harder
May 2, 2011 at 11:31 pmI couldn’t agree more! Great job!!
Coralie Petersen
May 3, 2011 at 5:57 amJohn, great insight. A lady came on KTIS yesterday outraged over people celebrating over one more lost soul. To say the least, I was perplexed and conflicted by this. In reality, could he really have been “saved”? My knee jerk reaction is H@$! NO! Honestly, he was the embodiment of evil. But my heart is saying that I should never judge. Then I realized that I am not rejoicing over his death. I am rejoicing for the fact that justice has finally reached out and slapped the one needing to be slapped. He chose death. The Seals would have taken him alive had he allowed it, I believe. But I don’t think he ever would have. Stories say he had instructed his own men to shoot him if it looked like they were going to take him alive. Again, that’s hearsay, but in all honesty, sounds possible. These events will bring the people of USA together and I feel that it’s just to celebrate over the ending of the ideas of such an extremist Muslim. Maybe not the ending of the life itself. I would be just as happy with him rotting away in a cell somewhere.
Thanks for the words John. Very thought provoking and heart-felt from you. You should really consider writing a book. When I worked for Bongards I knew a guy who drove for CH Robinson who wrote a book. Very interesting about his life as a truck driver and his “adventures”. Consider it. You do a great job!
-Cory
Andrew
May 4, 2011 at 6:21 amSept. 11, 2001 another day that will never go forgotten. I remember it well. I was working for Tamiami Ford, doing a standard brake job and maintenance. I saw on TV that a plane had hit the tower. A soon as I got back to the shop, we heard that tower 2 had been hit. The day got more dark, this was not a typical plane crash, what do we do, where do we go, who’s safe, who did what?
Towers fall… Dear Lord, what just happened? Are we dreaming? Are we seeing this? Is this able to happen? This is the USA, the nations most epic buildings, brought down to the ground buy powerless cowards. Going like lemmings on the word of a criminal.
Hours past by like days, days like years. We see the nation come together like a tight knit community, helping out those in need. People from ever walk of life giving blood as if we were family. America became whole, we were no longer a religion, ethnicity or color; we were humans. Yes, I remember September 11th.
Do I feel bad for the killing of bin Laden, not even a small bit. I am glad the world has been eradicated of a pathetic man who was responsible for the death of our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. The world can now rest knowing he is dead, and I will too.