I read a news report on what one professional football player had to say about celebrations surrounding Bin Laden’s death. In the long run the sports piece was a simple political piece, but it did make me think about one thing.
I am sure you have seen the mass amounts of reaction on Facebook, twitter, etc. around the days when the operation was revealed. Many people posted melancholy reminders that they would never be happy someone was dead, delivering the tidbit as if lowering the moral character of all those who reacted positively. While some seemed to take the celebration in the wrong direction completely.
It is hard in such a difficult situation to decide what exactly is the correct response, and yet something stood close to my heart. The news media and many, many cushy sudo “world aware” individuals have always come down hard on the military. I really would not expect this to be different. And while I could bring up Biblical example and precept, the question that really comes to mind is; If we cannot celebrate with the victory of those who sacrifice their lives for us, and struggle with them through their defeats, how will we continue. The answer seems obvious to me… We can not… Not as a nation, culture, or people.
We must learn that rejoicing in death itself is morbid and misdirected, but if a man can not rejoice in justice, then he must conduct a seriously inventory of his own character.
Love which refuses to rejoice in the greater good of those unable to protect themselves, however sad the consequences of that justice… doesn’t love.
Now I do not write this to indicate that all should hold or attend parties on ever Bin Laden death anniversary, nor that we should chant and shout as if attending a sporting event. Rather I find that we must be able to rejoice with justice, to promote a focus on the good and positive over the sad of a wasted life now lost. There is always time to mourn the ravages of sin, but the worker his due his wages, and a soldier needs the support of those he serves and protects, this includes laughing when they laugh and crying when they cry.
To add image to title, these certainly represent the prickly situation at hand…
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