I heard the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed at about 10pm on Sunday night. My husband tuned the TV to CNN and we watched the President's speech. In that moment I did not begin parading around the streets waving an American flag but I must admit I was pleased, even happy, to hear the news. I felt a jingoistic triumph which lasted into the next morning, when I found myself fighting a strong desire to high-five people around town. "Yeah, baby, it's about TIME!! Now maybe the free world can get on with our free-world-happiness without having to look over our shoulders every 5 minutes. Maybe flying will be fun again. Maybe all the radical Muslims who hate us will change their minds and send us chocolates instead, with a little post-it note saying, 'We're OK, You're OK. Sorry about that whole 9/11 thing.'"
But by that afternoon I had been in conversation with several friends who questioned a jubilant response. A life had been snuffed out. A man lay dead. Yes, he was a man who had caused us great pain. But a death is hardly a reason to dance in the streets. It is, after all, still death. Then I picked up my daughter from school, and her reaction to the news that bin Laden had been killed was to ask why we couldn't have just put him in 'time out' until he said he was sorry.
Later, I was asked to participate in a "man on the street" interview for our local newspaper which was gathering reactions from citizens about bin Laden's demise. This stopped me in my tracks. What did I want to say of my reaction, knowing it would be recorded for public consumption? How could I respond honestly yet thoughtfully, as a citizen, as a pastor, as a mother?
I thought about the Four Agreements, and how impeccable words are those that build up rather than tear down. With that in mind, I realized that to tell how I felt the minute I heard the news about bin Laden would have been truthful, but I am not sure it would have been impeccable. My thoughts had already evolved from one reaction to another in less than 24 hours. I had needed time to process what I heard. I decided to share this evolution of thought in the interview, adding that regardless of my own feelings I believe in a God who has the power to turn even our human tragedies to good.
I don't feel that my initial and visceral glad reaction was sinful. It came from a place deep within, a place abiding in a nation that has been grieving the loss of its own innocence for a decade. But I have learned that my opinions, especially on political or other emotionally charged topics, should be fluid and changing. I do not believe that this evolution is wishy-washy relativism, but rather a mark of maturity and an ability to self-examine which is essential to healthy dialogue. The tricky part is knowing when to speak out, and when to hold our tongues.
This really makes me think, Liz. I had a different reaction to the bin Laden issue, but your description of the process you went through reminds me of how I think through many things. Only I tend then to be destructive to myself about my initial reactions, beating myself up for not having the "right" reaction (whatever that is) instead of allowing for the fluidity you describe. I worry that I'm too wishy-washy and that I don't know what I think until after I hear from others. Thank you for your thoughts on this - truly the bin Laden event is deeply complex and a complex series of responses would seem to be in order.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this comment. I think if we can be kind to ourselves and acknowledge that our minds can be changed by interactions with others, and even should, we begin to see more fully the great complexities of the world--and we can step closer to one another, which is the heart of what I believe we humans really want. The Bible is a wonderful example of this: I never read the same passage twice without having a different reaction to it, based on my situation, the surroundings, discussions with others, and the workings of the Spirit in me at that moment. This does not constitute a rejection of the Absolute Love which underlies the scriptures, but instead embraces the concept that we are "reformed and always being reformed" with regard to our faith and relationship to God and each other.
ReplyDeleteGood column. Chocolates -- HA! I had sort of the opposite reaction: Sunday night at the announcement, I felt gloomy, that this would make no difference in the overall scheme of things, that bin Laden has been irrelevant for years, that we were essentially still where we were on 9/10 (yes, that's nine-TEN), and that violence only begets more violence, which I still think it will. But oddly the next day I was trying to repress the feeling of excitement and woo-hooing that everyone else did from the get-go. Go figure. Oh well, we just have to work and advocate for justice, in every realm. I get frustrated that Amurikans have never really asked ourselves why we were attacked, and why we are hated. We settle for our leaders' pat answers: "We were attacked for our freedom." "We were attacked for our way of life." In the end, I think the wisdom we all need has not been advanced much with this event.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I was in seminary during 9/11. I remember in the days after as we tried to make sense of what had happened there was a forum/open discussion on campus. During that discussion an exchange student from New Zealand stood up and passionately encouraged us to learn from what had happened and to understand that the United States was viewed by much of the world, even our allies, as bullies who would stop at nothing to advance our own agenda. He shared some specifics about our dealings with New Zealand with regard to use of international waterways. I remember being floored, just astounded that others felt this way about us. It was a life changing moment for me...I began to see us on the world stage for the first time, and I did not like what I saw. I had hoped then that our leaders at the time would have had such revelation, but that was not to be. Perhaps we're in a better place to see it now.
ReplyDeleteWhatever the case may be, I am so glad that OBAMA did it for us, finally! How many years have we been waiting for this great day?? Now that Osama Bin Laden is dead... let us hope that we can call this as end of terrorism :-) But then, I am seeing in the news these days that Pakistan themselves are in trouble due to the terrorists. How true it is to say that, If you choose violence to kill people, violence is gonna kill you!
ReplyDeleteCyber Crime