For a nation frustrated by three wars, divided by domestic politics and dogged by hard economic times and $4-a-gallon gas, it was time to cheer: “USA! USA!” [...] …bin Laden’s demise will not end al-Qaeda or Islamic terrorism any more than Hussein’s ended the war in Iraq. [...] Two historians, one liberal (Bard’s Lytle) and one conservative (Dayton’s Schweikart) agreed that for all the glee, bin Laden’s demise probably seems more important now than it will in retrospect. “This is sweet revenge, but it won’t change much,” Lytle said. On 9/11, in contrast, “when those buildings were hit, an age of innocence ended,” Schweikart said. (via Elation over bin Laden’s death gives way to reflection – USATODAY.com.)
Yesterday the news feeds I follow were dominated with headlines of victory, comfort, joy, relief, satisfaction &c at the news of the death of Osama bin Laden. The headlines today are more sober – and more disturbing.
It is one thing that “a nation frustrated by three wars, divided by domestic politics and dogged by hard economic times and $4-a-gallon gas” (as if these were the greatest of the nations problems) can cheer about anything. But that it cheers at the elimination of the embodiment of the same evil of which they are the embodiment should be a disturbing revelation.
The ideas that revenge is sweet, and that an age of innocence ended on 9/11 are shocking. even to one delivered from an evil way of thinking. Since when was revenge sweet? And who expected bitter revenge to change anything for the better? And what innocent planet or place was anyone on prior to 9/11? Innocence is not an adjective that even comes close to describing myself or anyone else occupying this planet in the almost 50 years I had lived here piror to 9/11. Am I supposed to believe that the events of 9/11 ended innocence? By what twisted reason does evil rob evil of innocence? “News” outlets would do a greater service to publish nothing but cartoons than to publish the non-sense of the thoughtless.
Someone might argue that it is good that elation has given way to reflection. To which I respond that it would be good if the reflection was on the real problem and the real solution, both of which are spiritual. The real problem is the conflict which is the effect of spirits having different points of view. And the only solution is a single point of view. Are God and peace with him the object and objective of the nation’s reflection? If not, the reflection is more of the evil that is the problem.
The truth is that bin Laden was the incarnation of lies. He did no harm to those who are the incarnation of truth, and no harm to those who, like him, are the incarnation of lies. Neither the U.S. nor any other earthly kingdom, has ever been, is, or ever will be a nation of truth incarnate. The elation and reflection of the evil is evil; the elation and reflection of the good is good. Osama bin Laden changed nothing of any eternal, spiritual significance, and like all created things and beings, serves God’s purpose of identifying his children.
All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like a flower of the field. The grass dries up and the flower drops off, but the word of the Lord lasts forever. (1 Peter 1.24-25a, God’s Word)
