Monday, May 2, 2011

Conflicted...

UPDATE:  The quote below is not actually a quote from MLK, Jr.  It was a cut and paste job from others and once I figure out who exactly, I will update again.  My opinion:  The message is the same!

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, 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."
- unknown, partly Martin Luther King, Jr and others all pieced together...

This quote by [who knows really] has been all over twitter, facebook and the internet today regarding the death of Osama bin Laden.  I am so conflicted as how to feel.  What do I tell my children when they are old enough to understand?  Does this mean our troops are coming home and life will get back to the way it was pre-Osama?  I just don't know.  We celebrated the death of Hitler.  Should I celebrate the death of Osama?  Conflicted...

I look at photos of the fallen NYFD.  I listen to stories of families who lost mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers on September 11, 2001.  I think of the men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.  I think of the men and women who haven't made it home.   I honor these heroes and I wonder, why don't I know how to feel about the death of Osama?  Conflicted...

What do you think my readers?  I, for one, have no idea how to feel.  I certainly don't feel like celebrating, but I am also not crying for a loss.  Conflicted....

happymommy

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree..a thinking person at this point would feel conflicted. It is hard to explain this death as a victory.

Anonymous said...

After listening to the many interviews of family members who lost a loved one on 911, all I heard was that they didn't feel better or joyful or have closure. There is no joy in this situation. And therefore, "conflicted" is very appropriate.

Anonymous said...

From 5. 3 at the Spartanburg Day School:
I think this is depressing even though we are happy about that he won't be causing any more deaths, I bet a lot of people are sad about this like his family, but they have to understand all of lives that were lost because of him. America mourns the loss of many people, but we should not rejoice over his death even though he did terrible things. We are concerned about the repercussions of his death. Will there be more violence or less violence?

Thanks for the quote! Keep blogging!

Anonymous said...

I cried for a while when I saw the news. Not for him but for everyone lost on 9/11, everyone lost trying to prevent another 9/11, and for the additional lives that may be lost as his followers surely step up their efforts in retaliation. I was in the WTC on 9/11 so I do tend to get emotional around the topic and what I view as an increased threat is definitely raising some anxiety for me. I am glad Osama is gone and I cheered Obama for being an ass-kicker but I cant really cheer for the death of Osama.

Anonymous said...

From 5.1 at the Spartanburg Day School:
You shouldn't respond to anything evil with evil because it won't make anything better. Violence isn't the solution. If everyone is fighting each other, then they are going to forget what is most important in life like education and family. Osama Bin Laden should be held responsible for the lost lives and the bombings on 9/11.