Last night just before heading to bed, I checked in with Twitter and saw a friend re-tweet from @USABreakingNews that Osama Bin Laden was killed. I checked for other mentions and quickly tuned in to CNN and then ABC as my Twitter stream filled with similar comments.
Laurie and I waited for 45 minutes or so before President Obama made the announcement himself, confirming that America’s Most Wanted man had been killed earlier in the day by US Special Forces.
As I watched my Twitter feed, I was struck by how different the responses were from so many of my friends.
Some cheered Team USA.
Some cheered President Bush.
Some cheered and declared the re-election of President Obama.
Others mourned that Osama Bin Laden was now a “lost soul” and spending eternity in hell.
Personally, I found myself with mixed emotions while “people watching” from a distance.
I kept wondering what should the proper response be — especially for myself, who claims to Follow the Way of Jesus.
Should we shout with gladness when the wicked perish? (Proverbs 11:10)
Or should we take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. (Ezekiel 33:11)
Or should we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us? And forgive those who trespass against us — seventy times seven? (Matthew 5:44, 6:12, 18:15-22)
And while I’m pondering these thoughts, I read the obit for Bin Laden in the New York Times:
With the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, Bin Laden was elevated to the realm of evil in the American imagination once reserved for dictators like Hitler and Stalin. He was a new national enemy, his face on wanted posters, gloating on videotape, taunting the United States and Western civilization.
I find their choice of wording particularly interesting.
Simply put, Osama Bin Laden has become the face of evil over the last decade.
We’ve labeled him a terrorist.
We’ve labeled him an extremist.
We’ve labeled him evil.
We’ve created a caricature of him out of our own thoughts and beliefs.
And with each label we’ve dehumanized him more and more and more.
Does this make his actions any less wrong or evil? No.
But in doing so, I believe it’s changed our individual and national psyche to where we cheer the death of another human being.
Go back and read that statement again.
Cheer the death of another human being? Really?!
And we’re OK with this?
And when we dehumanize another human — aren’t we also losing sight of the image of God that rests within us all?
—
Before any of the news broke about Bin Laden, Laurie and I were at our small group session talking about the “reset button” in relationships. A button we all need for each and every relationship. A button that immediately offers grace and forgiveness and puts wrongs done behind us and gives us a fresh start in the relationship.
As part of the discussion material, Mark Gungor made a pointed remark that I immediately tweeted:
‎”Unforgiveness is like taking poison and hoping it hurts the other person”
In our passion and rush for justice, we too often forget forgiveness.
Whether it’s in our personal relationships, or for someone we’ve never met — we want what we want and we cast judgment and condemnation on those who thwart it.
I saw very little forgiveness last night.
And our country has seen very little forgiveness over the last 10 years.
I’m afraid we’ve taken the poison and convinced ourselves that somehow Bin Laden’s death hurts him worse than the anger or bitterness could ever hurt us.
And in the process we’ve forgotten that while we have plenty of horrible labels we can give Bin Laden and other’s like him, the only label God gives is “loved.”
Because when Jesus says to love our neighbors and our enemies, it isn’t just for their sake.
When we don’t love – something happens to us.
And on the flip side, when we do love – something happens to us as well.
—
my creed ::
imagine if suddenly…
rather than seeking revenge, you sought reconciliation
rather than repaying violence with violence, you sought creative transforming nonviolent alternatives
rather than focusing on external conformity to moral codes, you were internally transformed by love
rather than loving insiders and hating outsiders, you welcomed outsiders into a new “us†and “weâ€
rather than anxiety about money or security or pleasure, you trusted ourselves to the care of God
rather than living for wealth, you lived for God who loves all people, including our enemies
rather than hating our enemies and competitors, you loved them and did unto them not as they have done unto you – or before they do unto you – but as you wish they would do for you
may God bless the world, all of us, everyone, everywhere
I just had to say that you put into words exactly what I felt. I shared a link on twitter and facebook. thanks so much for saying what you did. I struggled so much with the way people cheered last night and the hatred that people feel.
Thanks so much for your comment! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one struggling with people’s reactions.
I did note last night that it is interesting that it goes to show how differently we grieve and process grief. Hopefully that’s all this is, but I fear there’s far more to it.
I was likely one of those whose reactions troubled you… I can’t seem to find in myself remorse for feeling the way I did (and kind of still do). I can’t find it in my heart to think of OBL as a person, because I feel like he gave up the right to be treated as a person when he murdered thousands of others and twisted the lives of the thousands of people who follow him. Then I feel bad for not being a “good enough person” to not feel that way. It’s so complicated.
Thanks for sharing with honesty Colleen!
I hope you don’t take my post as a condemnation or judgment against any of the reactions people had to last night’s news (especially your own).
Personally, my gut reaction is “kill em all” so I understand the variety of reactions. It’s not easy at all to feel grief for someone who’s hurt you – or your friends – or your family – or even your fellow country men.
I think some of the reactions that troubled me most were those I saw who talk about love and grace and were now rejoicing that someone was “burning in hell.”
Or people declaring that this was “God’s will – and justice has been served.”
Personally, I prefer to think of justice as an act of restoration – not an eternal punishment.
And I guess it troubled me to see people literally rejoicing in the streets over another man’s death… when 10 years ago we cursed those who rejoiced in the streets over the death of 3000 Americans (http://i55.tinypic.com/2isgyg4.jpg).
In the end, I don’t/can’t fault anyone for their reactions. I can only answer for myself and pray that I’m able to show grace and forgiveness when called upon…. because I know for certain that while grace has been extended to me in abundance – I have a long way to go in showing that same grace to others… but luckily there’s grace enough for all of us so being “good enough” won’t be an issue.
Thanks for sharing with honesty Colleen!
I hope you don’t take my post as a condemnation or judgment against any of the reactions people had to last night’s news (especially your own).
Personally, my gut reaction is “kill em all” so I understand the variety of reactions. It’s not easy at all to feel grief for someone who’s hurt you – or your friends – or your family – or even your fellow country men.
I think some of the reactions that troubled me most were those I saw who talk about love and grace and were now rejoicing that someone was “burning in hell.”
Or people declaring that this was “God’s will – and justice has been served.”
Personally, I prefer to think of justice as an act of restoration – not an eternal punishment.
And I guess it troubled me to see people literally rejoicing in the streets over another man’s death… when 10 years ago we cursed those who rejoiced in the streets over the death of 3000 Americans (http://i55.tinypic.com/2isgyg4.jpg).
In the end, I don’t/can’t fault anyone for their reactions. I can only answer for myself and pray that I’m able to show grace and forgiveness when called upon…. because I know for certain that while grace has been extended to me in abundance – I have a long way to go in showing that same grace to others… but luckily there’s grace enough for all of us so being “good enough” won’t be an issue.