Now I have something to say

I just read this article titled, "The Psychology of Revenge: Why We Should Stop Celebrating Osama Bin Laden's Death," and I think the author is completely misunderstanding what the celebratory acts are standing for. Sure, for some people who are celebrating, they are shouting in the streets and what not because he is dead. The same as would family members who watch the man who murdered another family member get sentenced to death row. Nobody makes a big stink about that because it's small scale, they celebrate, but no one really hears about it. Think about the sense of relief that a family feels knowing that that murderer is sentenced to prison and then death, knowing that they no longer have to worry about them being out in the world and causing them or anyone else more pain...

Anyway, so yes, there are people that really are celebrating Bin Laden's death. Morally wrong? I'm not so sure.

But most of the celebrating? It's not so much that he's dead as that we can now understand that all this fighting and all these troops and all these struggles were not in vain. I'm relatively sure the same celebrations would have gone on had he been brought back alive. The celebration is for the boost in morale the troops are receiving, the resolution families of 9/11 victims can now grasp, and just our country. If you talk to anybody who really knows what they're talking about in terms of the war, no one expected the capture and/or death of Bin Laden to permanently solve any problems...so no duh the "world's not safer," "evil isn't removed," and "the War on Terror isn't over." That's not the point. The world will never be a safe place and the world will never be rid of evil and of course Bin Laden is not the only terrorist. But when so many shortcomings and failures and losses have come out of this war, I sincerely believe it is justified to celebrate one victory in support of our country and our troops.

Do you really think people are not mourning all who have been lost as Osama Bin Laden is killed? Do you really believe mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and husbands and wives and children are not sitting at home reflecting on how much sorrow and pain this man has caused? Of course they are going to mourn. But what a sense of relief! Now they may know that their soldier did not die in the pursuit of something unrealistic, that they're family member was not killed on 9/11 only to be forgotten about.

Because he is dead does not mean that we as American's do not honor life. Him being captured, dead or alive, is a big step in the direction of saving more lives from his terror. Lives of Americans and soldiers and lives of people in the Middle East. You tell a soldier he needs to "examine his own heart" after celebrating last night, and see how well that goes over. You go put yourself out there on the front lines for the last 10 years and see how that gives you a little change in perspective.

Not to mention the contradictory part of this article. First, "We are not a peaceful species." But then, "We will only have peace when we stop the cycle of jubilation over acts of violence." Even if that were to be the case, we would still be the same species, in which case we would still not be peaceful. Look, I'm one of the most optimistic people I've come across, but even I know that world peace is nothing more than an ideal. That's not pessimism, that's realism. Normally I hate that statement, but it rings so true in this case. As long as there is religion, as long as there are racial differences, as long as there are independent governments, as long as people have brains in their head with which to think for themselves, there will not be peace. YOU can do your best to treat people with dignity and respect regardless of who they are, YOU can make amends in your conflicts, and YOU can live your life the best way you think possible. But YOU are not everyone else, and other people's ideas of "living life the best way possible," are different than yours I guarantee it. And if you think that's not true, I challenge you to get outside of your box a little bit; you'll learn quickly.

No, it's not over. I will give you that. It's not even close to over. Threats are higher, backlash is a big and real possibility. But those citizens, those soldiers that chanted and sang and waved the American flag? They weren't merely celebrating the death of another human being. And I think to say so is looking at the situation from a very narrow and one-sided perspective.