We awaited for about an hour for the President to finally come and tell the American people what we already knew. Thanks to Twitter which both alerted me to the speech, and then swirled with reports that the President would announce that Osama Bin Laden had been captured or killed.
My immediate reaction was "good." And then I wondered why I felt good. Part was a sense of relief and closure that many American and especially 9-11 victims were longing for. I'm glad for this but I am also troubled and conflicted. My pacifist side says that I should not rejoice at his death and that he should have been brought to trial. My just war side says, well if he was resisting to the death, then so be it. But in either case I don't think any of us should rejoice over death. Especially as we follow the One who came to conquer death.
Reflecting in this Easter season, and in talking with confirmands, I have often talked about the meaning of Jesus crucifixion and death. I have come to the conclusion that Jesus plan originally wasn't to die, but our failure to follow him lead to that being the only way Jesus could reconcile the world to God. In the end it was necessary but could not be called right.
When we kill or execute someone who is our enemy, (whom we are called to love by Jesus) the initial satisfaction is there but then what happens next. Can we truly say justice has been served. Does Bin Ladens death make up for the thousands that he had a hand in killing? Maybe for some. Was justice served? I think Jesus exemplified that there is little justice in redemptive violence.
I think my only conclusion at this time can be that I'm glad he is no longer a threat. Perhaps his death was necessary, perhaps it provided closure for some, but I don't think it can be called right.
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