From Alexis Madrigal at The Atlantic: Click for the Original Article & Photos
Having had the good fortune to spend several years of my life living abroad, I have, on many occasions, faced a good deal of confusion from friends and acquaintances about American behavior. Stereotypes proliferate, sometimes with good reason, and then media outlets broadcast moments which seem to play most toward American extremism. It has often felt like an uphill struggle to do my part in showing that my country is not simply a nation of trigger-happy cowboys. Today is no different. Osama Bin Laden is dead, and what do people know in France? “The Americans are dancing in the streets!”
I feel it my duty to tell anyone who will listen: many Americans are NOT celebrating, and that the reality is that only SOME Americans are dancing in the streets.
As Alexis Madrigal said in his coverage of the impromptu pep rally that happened last night outside the white house, “I did not think the spontaneous party outside the White House was our finest hour.” I cannot agree with him more wholeheartedly. But it is crucial to say that these celebrants are not representative of the whole. Many of us, at home and abroad, recognize death as a somber event in any form, and do not see any cause for celebration. Many of us are immediately fearful of the reprisals that are sure to come from the death of Osama Bin Laden, and worry about whether he will be martyred, even as his burial at sea was clearly an attempt to avoid the creation of a pilgrimage site around his grave.
I also—personally, though I am not alone in this—question any American who cheers what they see as a victory for freedom. Would not the real triumph have been a fair trial for Osama Bin Laden in an international court of law? I can already hear the hard-liners citing the lack of trial received by the victims of the September 11th attacks as an excuse. I will remind them that the very foundation of what Americans profess to believe when they pledge allegiance is that of justice, and we have long since dispensed with the Code of Hammurabi. We have traded the draconian justice systems of our forebears in the knowledge that evil does not counter evil, death does not cure death, and that violence only breeds more violence. And this is to say nothing of the fact that the intelligence for this operation originated in the dubious prison at Guantanamo Bay, the one which so many of us, Americans included, have critiqued and asked to be closed.
But let me clarify and return to the principal point. I am not taking this moment to criticize the operation that led to Bin Laden’s death. And, knowing how reactionaries choose to argue, I will go so far as to state what should be obvious: I neither support what Osama Bin Laden has done, nor do I wish he was still at large. What I am is an example of many Americans who see that his death is not an occasion for a party, and a representative of my people who continue to want peaceful solutions for the problems that face us. We are not all warmongers, cowboys, and stockholders in McDonalds. I am heartened to know and share with you that many Americans view today as yet another solemn moment in a long and sad narrative of violence that we would all like to see end in peace.
That’s right, many Americans would like to see the guns put away forever. Many of us prefer to celebrate not death but love.
9 comments
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May 2, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Vera
Thanks for expressing your views, which echo the views of many Americans, myself included.
May 2, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Laura Illiano
I have been reading various articles and seeing who of my friends are jumping on the bandwagon of flag waving and who are saddened by the rejoicing in death and I came across this via my good friend Amy M. I couldn’t agree more with this and am feeling the need to find like minded people to remember, no, we’re not alone in feeling disenchanted by the reactions the media chooses to broadcast.
“I am heartened to know and share with you that many Americans view today as yet another solemn moment in a long and sad narrative of violence that we would all like to see end in peace. That’s right, many Americans would like to see the guns put away forever. Many of us prefer to celebrate not death but love.”
Thank you for writing a concise and heartfelt response.
May 2, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Nathan Sharratt
I’m with you. Especially regarding the inaccurate accounting practices many people of the world (America included) hold fast to that some = all. Some Americans are dancing in the street; millions are not. Some religious people are extremists; billions are not.
It’s easy to blame The Media for proliferating extremist ideals, in any capacity, by reporting them with such fervor, but that’s lazy and irresponsible. Truly the fault lies in all of us, individually and collectively for wanting to watch/read/listen to the extremist reports. If we didn’t want it, they wouldn’t show it. Until there’s a paradigm shift we’ll just have to keep fighting the misconceptions.
May 2, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Katya
I appreciate the well thought out response to the events, or rather the response to the events, of last night.
My position, however, is rejoice away, if that is where your heart lies. I find the “more civilized than thou” movement a bit off-putting. People are so afraid of how they are being perceived by others, they are stifling their enthusiasm regarding a momentous event that symbolizes closure for a swell of people worldwide. I find many to be disengenous and more wrapped up in a “I don’t feel like celebrating” movement, than earnest about the solemnity of one man’s, any man’s, death. You, however, I think have shown consistency in position, and that I respect. You, I respect.
My problem is that so many who now wear the “no celebration” mantra like an altogether frightening Facinator hat are the same people who were all gung ho about our initial invasion of Iraq 9 years ago, an invasion which unmistakably meant the death of throngs of others, Iraqis and non-Iraqis alike. Did death not warrant more dignity then? But maybe time does that people. It emboldens their restraint and numbs their passion. And then there are the folks who are wholeheartedly for the death penalty, yet who aren’t “celebrating” the death of a man who set in motion one of the, if not the, most devastating series of events in our nation’s history. It seems very “for show” to me.
Oh, and as for how the world feels about our celebrating in the streets…I was brought up as (and remain) a death-penalty loathing, fight-for-the-underdog, compassion-for-all worldist, and I could care less. Just being honest. When Hitler died, there were drunken celebrations in the streets throughout Europe. bin Laden isn’t Hitler, I know. But what is the correct number of deaths instigated by a calculated “mad” man to make celebration okay? Or were the folks in the 40s just less civilized than us? Those brave souls who fought at least in part against the slaughter of those mostly unlike themselves.
To completely bastardize Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park — People are so concerned about doing what is right, that they are forgetting to do what IS right — or in this case — what is honest…about what they are feeling. That initial heart leap upon hearing the news. It meant something. It means something. Shoving it down below the Super Ego doesn’t mean it’s not there. Or, does it?
Just one gal’s rambling opinion.
May 2, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Rachel
Osama Bin Laden was on the CIA payroll in the 80′s and millions of US tax dollars funded him to run a terrorist training camp to keep the Russians out of Afghanistan. The Bin Laden family has long been close friends with the Bush family when it came to lucrative property deals. So when the US needed a boogie man it’s only natural they would choose someone ‘in-house’. The US gave birth to this nightmare and along with his organisation ‘Al-Qaeda’ (thanks to the Imagination of Donald Rumsfed aka ‘one of the crazies’) and has continued to use it to scare the American people manipulating them into the “War on Terrorism”.
If you don’t believe me, turn off CNN, Fox news and read. There is now an overwhelming amount of books, documentaries, live footage proving this as fact. It is true Bin Laden had nothing to do with the Twin Towers.
Feel free to have a look on the FBI Most Wanted list on what he’s officially wanted for….you’ll see its for bombing the US embassy in Afganistan but not the Twin Towers!
It’s time for Americans to educate ourselves and not let the politicians and media feed us lies.
We also need to be asking questions like ‘Why is the US government and it’s leaders are never held accountable for their crimes (lies, torture, gunning down women and children civilians) and feel they are justified in everything they do whether legal or not? What happened having a trial and innocent until proven guilty?
Conflicts with US’s policy often ends with other countries ‘dictators’ jailed, tortured or assassinated (or all three)
Osama Bin Ladin was a criminal, but I could never celebrate something that seems to be such a hypocritical take on ‘liberty’ and ‘freedom’.
May 2, 2011 at 11:47 pm
Jennifer Lockett
Do I think that this world is a better place without Osama bin Laden in it? Yes
Do I agree with (the current details released) method employed? Yes
Is this a victory for America/Americans? Yes
What bothered me a lot last night was the fratboy-esque partying that was glamorized in front of the white house or at ball parks. I wish that more of my countrymen and women looked at this event and took upon themselves moments of somber reflection, memory of his victims, and perhaps a bit of sadness that ‘doing what had to be done’ included the active killing of both the innocent along with the guilty.
Of course, quiet reflection and somber pondering do not make for good tv.
May 3, 2011 at 2:54 am
Paul
It was time for the US to get closure on Bin Laden. They had to move into the next phase of their conjured up neo-conservative war on terror. Ailing old man Bin Laden wasn’t posing a big enough threat to democratic peace. The tirade went on for ten years. It was good while it lasted, but how long could they keep on stretching the truth.
This staging was done in perfect covert style. None of the top military or political brass in Pakistan had an idea of what was to transpire. The mysterious Bin Laden, the wealthy man that fought his guerilla wars in the caves of Afghanistan went to his death by using a woman as a shield (bad guy) before being shot in the head twice (of course any published photos of his dead body, if any won’t be recognised). His body was conveniently whisked away and disposed of ‘at sea’ – to be eaten by fish, so that there conveniently would not be any trace whatsoever.
I ask myself, why, if he was so easily confined to a room, with a double bed (the reason for the woman being there) in disarray (messy messy guy), why was he not captured and sent to G Bay like the rest of these unwanton terrorists for interrogation about the truth of his activities.
Amazing still, is how the results of this secret mission could hit the media and within minutes have hundreds of prep – prepie – prepared(just looking for the right word) revelers dancing in the streets to send images to the world of the jubilation.
And then all the experts come out with all the commentaries to make sure that the message of the death is firmly cemented in the worlds mind…….and on top of this….Obama’s popularity conveniently soars.
I wouldn’t be surprised if a cleanly shaven Bin Laden has been hanging out in the US for years and is still conducting his family business in another guise. We’ll never know.
I predict that we are now, with the closure of this episode, most probably coming into the next phase of staged terror, whereby there will be new attacks, with more destruction and new villains to chase. It may be even escalated to a new level – ever seen the film ‘Brazil”?
May 3, 2011 at 1:48 am
BARRY HAWKINS
I despise Osama bin Laden and everything he stood for. I regret however, that he ultimately pulled us down to his level of primitive violence, once again continuing the cycle of revenge after revenge. Why do you think there is so little peace in some of these areas… because they are still taking revenge on each other for one thing or another, and on and on in an endless and pointless process. Do we honestly think that killing anyone will end opposition?
May 3, 2011 at 7:43 am
maybedog
Here in Seattle I did not see any kind of celebratory mood. I’m sure somewhere in the city there was but I didn’t witness any. The news was somber and matter-of-fact on the subject. This afternoon I was watching the coverage with a naturalized Vietnamese acquaintance. She turned to me and said, “It’s good, yes?” nodding but without a smile then turned back to the TV.
On the news the fathers of two soldiers who died in the war were interviewed. Neither of them were happy or even smiling. One talked about his son who signed up because he saw the poverty and horrible living conditions and wanted to help the people rise above. He showed a picture of his son amidst children and adults, all smiling and laughing and hugging each other. His son’s life wasn’t about hate and he honored him by focusing on the good his son did as a reaction to the bad Bin Laden committed.
My own family hasn’t even brought it up.
I recognize that Bin Laden needed to be taken out of action. I am glad that President Obama chose this method of ridding us of such a terrible man rather than bombing, and I am glad it succeeded. I would have preferred that he had been arrested and put on trial but I can’t say I’m sorry he’s dead. I am proud of the Navy Seals who made it through a firefight and only killed 6 people, all but one at the top of the organization (the 6th being a woman used as a shield by one of the men). But nothing about Bin Laden elicits joy, not even his death.
Nor does it even produce in me a sigh of relief. His death does not change the state of the world and it won’t stop Al Qaeda or terrorism.
There is no cheering here, only a somber moment of respect and memory for those who have suffered at his hand.
–Jeremy’s Other Sister