On my way to work this morning, I thought to myself, "Today is a great day to be an American."
And immediately, I became ashamed that America was taking pleasure in the death of Osama Bin Laden.
One can understand why. Regardless of his ability to lead the terrorists, he was as evil as Hitler, and would have killed just as many if he had the chance.
But celebrating that he's gone is what rubs me the wrong way. While he, the man, is no longer a threat, I take issue with President Obama's declaration that justice has been served. From the thousands of innocent lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, to the soldiers killed and wounded while hunting down Bin Laden, the score has not been settled.
It's not even close.
What Bin Laden stood for isn't dead, and it's possible that it's more resolved than ever to disrupt and destroy our way of life. While I respect the administration's intent to kill him over capturing him alive, I also feel conflicted in how the United States handled matters post-mortem.
The impulsive side of me is saddened that he was given a respectful religious burial, when so many would've loved to see him paraded through the streets. Then I'm reminded that as Americans we take the high road. Nothing will satiate the conspiracy theorists, but such respectful treatment of one of history's greatest monsters proves beyond a doubt that our war is on terror, not on Islam. My pragmatic side is incredibly proud of the restraint our country showed early this morning.
And if and when the post-mortem photos of Bin Laden become available, we'll all have to make a decision whether or not to look. I already know that I will. Will you?
None of this is black and white. None of this makes me proud as a human being. None of me thinks "we won."
Still, I feel like today is a day for relief, not jubilation, and not because it's morally wrong to wish death upon anyone, regardless of the circumstances. Bin Laden was a symbol, one who will be replaced. But he was still a man who murdered so many who didn't deserve to die. His death doesn't bring back the innocents who were lost because of him. If anything, it makes us remember them a little more today.
I can't tell anyone how to feel today. But as far as I'm concerned, the death of Bin Laden brings elation, relief, then recollection of an awful moment in America's history. I hope that over time these emotions fade to nothing – this villain has already taken up too much of this nation's consciousness.
We can relish this moment if we must, but then it's time to move on.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
