Osama Bin Laden’s Death

May 01. 2011

…Saddens me a bit.

Not because I am mourning the death of a great person. Not because I am a supporter of terrorism or any of the other horrible things he has done in his lifetime. Not because I do not still cringe when I think about 9/11 or the thousands of lives of the troops who have given their lives because of his actions.

I am saddened because of so many people’s reaction to it. How happy and celebratory they are.

Let’s get one thing straight. I believe Bin Laden was not a good person. He has caused much pain and suffering and his name will go down in history with the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, etc.

But I do not believe ANYONE‘s death is one to be celebrated.

I wouldn’t wish death upon even the murderers of my own family. Capture and/or punishment (excluding execution), yes. But death? No.

Perhaps it’s due to my belief that everyone will meet their TRUE justice after death. I hold life to be sacred and I believe that EVERYONE’s life on this earth — no matter how heroic or villainous, no matter how short or how long — is worth something.

And let’s not forget that God loves even the lowest scum that has ever walked this plant. Even Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and Bin Laden.

I know that my belief is in the minority (someone has even de-friended me on Facebook) but I implore my readers to at least realize that, as my friend Teyah said, “Two wrongs don’t make a right and victory dances on the man’s grave would make us no better than he was and won’t retract all the horrible things he did.”

I actually totally disagree with you. I have no reservations and feel no guilt as saying that I am happy that he is dead. I feel no shame in smiling about it. There are many reasons for this. From a Christian perspective I don’t see it as wrong in any sense. God aided David in the slaying of Goliath and the people celebrated, in the book of Esther, God aided the Jews by having a decree issued saying they had a right to kill in order to defend themselves.. So, my Christian beliefs don’t hinder my happiness to see him gone. I do believe that justice was done and I am happy about it. This individual was not murdered in cold blood, he was not innocently going about his business, he was an individual who lived on hate and the mass killings of his own people and others. He was given the opportunity to surrender and would not. He, in a sense, chose his fate. I am happy that he is dead. Yes. I am. I feel no shame in that and I do not feel it is in any sense, morally wrong to be happy about it. I am of the belief that as terrible as it is, justice is sometimes done. Now, what happens to him next, is between him and God. He chose his fate here on Earth.

May 3, 2011 at 5:26 pm Reply

Geek in Heels

While I agree that what happens now to Bin Laden is up to God, I don’t agree that we can assume to know God’s feelings or even His judgement about certain people, no matter how “good” or “bad” they were. Yes, God is a vengeful god. But He is also merciful and just. I know that He will give Bin Laden what he deserves, but I don’t assume to know what that is. And, as John Piper stated yesterday, “God took out Osama bin Ladin. And he will take me out. And you. And everyone else. Only different ways. (Deu 32:39; Job 1:21)”

I have a personal conviction about this issue because I have been struggling lately to love my enemies and not to hold grudges. And was not Bin Laden an enemy? No matter how horrible a person was in his lifetime, I just could never be happy over someone’s death. But again, that’s just my opinion and I don’t hold anything against those who believe differently.

May 3, 2011 at 5:40 pm Reply

Scottie Ann Kelly

I agree with you on not knowing God’s sentiments on an individual, I did not mean to imply that God would have wanted him dead. I stated that God will judge him accordingly in the after life. I was pointing out that it is not an immoral or sinful act to be happy when an evil or terrible person is killed and that death has been celebrated before in the Bible. Therefore, since you also cannot know God’s heart, cannot say whether or not it is un-Christian or immoral for others to be happy about his death because there have been Biblical instances showing it in and of itself is not an immoral thing. I’m happy about it and that’s not immoral.

May 4, 2011 at 9:47 am Reply

Geek in Heels

I really think it’s a personal conviction thing, and those stories and various verses are up to interpretation. For example, how David did not celebrate Saul’s death, or how Proverbs 24:17-18 states: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.”

I’m just saying it is MY personal conviction that I should not be happy over death. Once again, although I may disagree with others, I don’t hold that against them.

May 4, 2011 at 12:09 pm Reply

Michelle

Wow. I just posted something with similar sentiments on my own blog. Feelings that I wasn’t sure if many felt. It was really surprising and nice to see that someone else was feeling the same way. It’s a very interesting outlook on everything.

May 3, 2011 at 9:48 pm Reply

Scottie Ann Kelly

I actually totally disagree with you. I have no reservations and feel no guilt as saying that I am happy that he is dead. I feel no shame in smiling about it. There are many reasons for this. From a Christian perspective I don’t see it as wrong in any sense. God aided David in the slaying of Goliath and the people celebrated, in the book of Esther, God aided the Jews by having a decree issued saying they had a right to kill in order to defend themselves.. So, my Christian beliefs don’t hinder my happiness to see him gone. I do believe that justice was done and I am happy about it. This individual was not murdered in cold blood, he was not innocently going about his business, he was an individual who lived on hate and the mass killings of his own people and others. He was given the opportunity to surrender and would not. He, in a sense, chose his fate. I am happy that he is dead. Yes. I am. I feel no shame in that and I do not feel it is in any sense, morally wrong to be happy about it. I am of the belief that as terrible as it is, justice is sometimes done. Now, what happens to him next, is between him and God. He chose his fate here on Earth.

May 3, 2011 at 5:26 pm Reply
- Geek in Heels
  
  While I agree that what happens now to Bin Laden is up to God, I don’t agree that we can assume to know God’s feelings or even His judgement about certain people, no matter how “good” or “bad” they were. Yes, God is a vengeful god. But He is also merciful and just. I know that He will give Bin Laden what he deserves, but I don’t assume to know what that is. And, as John Piper stated yesterday, “God took out Osama bin Ladin. And he will take me out. And you. And everyone else. Only different ways. (Deu 32:39; Job 1:21)”
  
  I have a personal conviction about this issue because I have been struggling lately to love my enemies and not to hold grudges. And was not Bin Laden an enemy? No matter how horrible a person was in his lifetime, I just could never be happy over someone’s death. But again, that’s just my opinion and I don’t hold anything against those who believe differently.
  
  May 3, 2011 at 5:40 pm Reply
  - Scottie Ann Kelly
    
    I agree with you on not knowing God’s sentiments on an individual, I did not mean to imply that God would have wanted him dead. I stated that God will judge him accordingly in the after life. I was pointing out that it is not an immoral or sinful act to be happy when an evil or terrible person is killed and that death has been celebrated before in the Bible. Therefore, since you also cannot know God’s heart, cannot say whether or not it is un-Christian or immoral for others to be happy about his death because there have been Biblical instances showing it in and of itself is not an immoral thing. I’m happy about it and that’s not immoral.
    
    May 4, 2011 at 9:47 am Reply
    - Geek in Heels
      
      I really think it’s a personal conviction thing, and those stories and various verses are up to interpretation. For example, how David did not celebrate Saul’s death, or how Proverbs 24:17-18 states: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.”
      
      I’m just saying it is MY personal conviction that I should not be happy over death. Once again, although I may disagree with others, I don’t hold that against them.
      
      May 4, 2011 at 12:09 pm Reply
      - Scottie Ann Kelly
        
        I see where you are coming from now and completely respect your feelings and conviction on it, although I do not necessarily agree with your thoughts and feelings entirely, I can appreciate them.
        
        May 4, 2011 at 12:14 pm Reply
        
        Geek in Heels
        
        Glad that we can agree to disagree. 🙂
        
        May 4, 2011 at 12:18 pm Reply
        
        Scottie Ann Kelly
        
        Absolutely. 🙂
        
        May 4, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Michelle

Wow. I just posted something with similar sentiments on my own blog. Feelings that I wasn’t sure if many felt. It was really surprising and nice to see that someone else was feeling the same way. It’s a very interesting outlook on everything.

May 3, 2011 at 9:48 pm Reply
Michelle Simpson

I agree completely! I was pretty horrified at some of the comments on my Facebook feed about it 🙁

May 4, 2011 at 5:39 pm Reply