The cheers and chants of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” were heard
outside of the White House, in Times Square, at Ground Zero, in the 9th
inning of the Phillies/Mets game and in various homes, bars and anywhere else
people congregated Sunday night as the news of Osama bin Laden’s death spread
around the world. It was a moment nearly ten years in the making; since those
towers went down he’s been Public Enemy #1, the face of terrorism and here was
Barack Obama announcing that he was dead. Not captured, killed.
That sent a thrill through those directly affected by the
man who led the organization that not only attacked America on September 11th,
but also carried out other terrorist acts around the world over the last 20
years. However, I am still troubled by the response, still skeptical of what’s
next. The death of bin Laden doesn’t guarantee the death of Al-Qaeda, it doesn’t
mean the War on Terror is over, it hasn’t resulted in the troops coming home
from Afghanistan and Iraq, where we’ve spent trillions of dollars and lost
thousands of lives looking for Osama and his network. Yup, we’ve been fighting
wars in two countries and the Navy Seals caught him slipping in a mansion in
Pakistan probably watching the Heat game. I guess Pakistan has some explaining
to do…
Now there’s a call for photos of a dead bin Laden to be
released, people want proof of death and I’m not different. I want to see a few
of the Seals flicked up with him, chucking up the deuce, like it’s a shoutout
picture. I’m just saying, we were able to download Sadaam Hussein hanging, why
not get a few shots of Osama dead? It will help to ease the cynicism of many
and show that the job was actually done. While President Obama and crew ponder
releasing the pictures and the body of the evil rests at sea, people around the
world will continue to rejoice death and celebrate what they believe is the end
of a terroristic reign.
I suppose that I’m relieved that he’s been taken out, I do
live within his crosshairs, but I’m not partying or singing the anthem. As an American, I understand the fear he caused and the
sentiment of knowing that he has been eliminated. But as a Black man, I was
troubled by the hatred that flowed from the celebrations of his death…especially
when the President’s skin is similar to mine.
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