The Conflict over bin Laden

If it's on Drudge, it's gotta be true

I went to bed last night without a clue what was happening in the world.

I woke up to two text messages of Facebook status updates.  One from my sister that said “47,000 killed and wounded. Let it end now.” and one from my cousin’s wife that said simply “God Bless Our Troops.” and I knew something had happened overnight.

When I heard it on the news this morning, I sat there listening, not believing.

Osama was killed last night by a team of Navy SEALS. (sure he was)

It’s been confirmed by DNA testing (Really? They have kits they can use on site and get results?)

He was buried at sea (of course he was.. now? no body to prove yes he was or no he wasn’t)

What? Sue me I’m from Missouri, the Show Me State.

After getting to work and getting on line and seeing the news confirmed over and over and over again by news agencies around the world, it’s easier to accept.

Now, though, I’m left with an overwhelming feeling of “What now?”

I remember where I was when the Towers were hit. I was working at Scholastic, calling school districts for payments.  One of our girls stood up and cried “OMG the Twin Towers have been hit!”  Instantly we all hung up the phones and turned on the news and listened in horror and disbelief.

I went home that night and sat my children down in front of the television and watched what I had been listening to all day.  I hated that my kids had to see that, but I wanted them to see, to know, to remember.

Here we are, 10 years later, and the man they claim is/was responsible for the attack on the World Trade Center, is dead.

And? I feel….

Nothing.

No real relief, no need to celebration, no vindication.

Except maybe for guilt for not feeling celebratory, or happiness, or relief, or joy.

In the past 10 years, Osama became just a name, an idea, the enemy, the reason we were at war, but not a person.

There is real concern that in killing that person, we have put ourselves in the crosshairs of terrorists around the world.  In claiming a victory we very well may have endangered our own people.  Was his death necessary?  Was it worth it?  My question is, what have we gained by killing him?

I know, that’s the ‘wrong attitude to have’ and yet?  I have to wonder, what has been gained?  We’ve still lost thousands of troops.  There are children without parents, wives without husbands, husbands without wives, and parents without children.

My brother is one of those troops who have been sent overseas repeatedly in the past 10 years.  My family knows the uncertainty that comes with having a family member in the military.  We know that every day the phone doesn’t ring is a good day because nobody will call us to tell us he’s ok.

But does this mean I no longer have to worry?  Is the world, our world, a safer place today because Osama is dead?  Today, the sun still rose in the east and I have it on good authority it will set in the west.

And yet? The world seems different somehow…