I'm of two minds.

"I will 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."
--Martin Luther King Jr

I am not normally a quotes kind of person, but I thought this quote was so fitting. I'm a few days behind the times, but I've still been chewing over the announcement of the death of Bin Laden.

There is a part of me that feels, as an American, I should celebrate the "victory" for our country and the "justice" for the thousands of families whose lives have been altered by the actions of a sick and twisted man. Then there is another, perhaps louder, part of me that feels that this is not something worth celebration. At the end of the day its a death. Yes this man did some terrible things. Yes he had ideals that are controversial and that are considered evil by the majority of the western world, but he was still a person and he died. I don't think any death is worth a celebration.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way condoning his actions and I am not mourning the loss of his life, but I just feel that no good can come of celebrating it.

I guess my thoughts are a little muddled on the entire subject. I think a big part of that is that the rest of the world is so judgemental of the United States. I feel that every move America make is criticized and nit picked to pieces. I hear so much criticism of the United States, yet they accept so many influences from our culture and media (of course when you bring this point up people say that these influences are forced on them and they hate it....as they wear their Levi's and drink their coke....but i digress.) I feel like celebrating the death of this man is like taking one step forward and then two steps back. But I am also proud of my country and feel very patriotic and homesick and wish I could be in America to feel that....."vibe". You know the one I'm referring to, like after 9/11 that feeling of togetherness and mutual love that was in the air, for weeks, months afterwards.

I've had plenty of people here in Ireland ask me my thoughts on his death being an American and all, but I've kept my opinion to myself. I don't feel like I could give anyone a satisfactory answer to that question. Should I give the expected answer or the truth?

Either way I'm glad that the military was able to carry out the mission with success, but I fear its like pucking a hair, seven more will come up to replace it.