I took this photo on a work trip to NYC last month. We had a meeting in 7 World Trade Center and this is was the view from the conference room. The sight alone brought a flood of emotions, but after yesterday’s news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed – the man responsible for this haunting landscape – somehow the image brings even greater meaning and reflection.
In the past 12 or so hours, I have felt a mix of many emotions. First, happiness and relief that the world’s most elusive terrorist had been killed — for a moment it was almost surreal. But then shortly thereafter a sense of reality and sort of pessimism came over me as I watched the images of celebration. I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly this occasion stood for and ask myself the question of “Now what?” One man is dead but what does that mean for progress in the war against terror? What does that mean for the overall status of unrest in the Middle East? And selfishly, what does that mean for OUR country and the problems we have HERE?
I will only briefly mention that I couldn’t share the elation of those outside the White House (in fact, the scene made me a little uncomfortable) or the anger I felt against those who immediately turned the event political, spouting partisan rants. I am continually disillusioned with the two-party system and the us vs. them mentality of our country and our leaders. Will it ever end?
All that aside, I strongly believe this will be an amazing sense of justice and closure for the families affected by 9/11 and that brings me great comfort. I also feel immense pride for the courageous people who saw this mission through, as well as all the brave men and women of our armed forces who on a daily basis sacrifice their safety to ensure ours’. For that I am eternally thankful. Today, these are the people who deserve to celebrate.
There is no doubt in my mind that Osama Bin Laden was an evil piece of rat doo-doo who stood for hateful ideologies and he got what he had coming for him. But I can only hope that the hearts and minds of Americans are in the right place and that we use this milestone not to glorify death but to commemorate and honor all the lives tragically lost at the hands of terrorism.
(In other news, did you know that feline AIDS is the number one killer of domestic cats? WOMP, WOMP!!!)
The Dryer Ate My Knickers 