Reflections on the Death of Osama Bib Laden

I certainly understand the emotions that are rampant in light of the death of Osama Bin Laden. For all of us he was the epitome of evil.

All of us remember where we were and what we were doing on the fateful day of September 11, 2001 when we learned of one of the most cowardly and despicable acts ever perpetuated in the annals of human history.

Likewise we will remember what we were doing on May 1, 2011 when we learned that the one who was responsible for the barbarism of September 11, 2001 had been dispatched from this earth by a team of Navy S.E.A.L.S.

As I write these words on the Monday after the announcement of Osama’s death I am left trying to sort through my own emotions. On the one hand there is a part of me that rejoices that there is one less monster roaming our planet. Let me say unequivocally the world is a better place without Osama Bin Laden.

However, there is also a part of me that says we don’t rejoice over a person’s death. Osama Bin Laden was evil. I do not wish to be evil because I am one who has accepted the grace of God. To rejoice over Osama’s death makes me like Osama and that I do not wish be.
The death of Osama was certainly deserved but it was not justice.

Justice can not be equated with punishment. Justice is a matter of restoring what has been harmed and sadly Osama’s death cannot restore any lives that were lost on September 11, 2001. So while there is retribution there is no justice and we cannot replace what Osama has taken from us.

Osama’s death also brings a certain amount of apprehension to all of us. For many misguided souls, Bin Laden was a hero. He will now be considered a martyr by many and there will be those who seek to avenge his death. Our nation and the free people of this world must remain ever vigilant that they do not succeed. There is certainly a danger that one more evil than Osama might arise to take his place. For that reason there is little comfort to be found in the death of Osama.

What we can say is that on May 1, 2011 righteousness dealt a blow to evil. The world was put on notice that those who would destroy freedom will not have the last word. Our nation told the world that our resolve is not shaken and we are people determined to defend our freedom.

One cannot reflect on these events without offering a word of appreciation to the men and women of the armed forces of our nation who have selflessly given of themselves in order that we might remain a free people. We also owe a debt of gratitude to those working behind the scenes who have been dogged in the determination to vanquish evil.

The death of Bin Laden does not solve the myriad of problems facing our land. Unemployment remains unacceptably high. Gas prices are crippling many families. Our government continues to spend money it does not have and our debt grows by the day. Osama’s death does nothing to alleviate these situations.

However, we can be thankful that our nation has slapped the face of evil. We have told those who do us harm that the guilty will pay. We have told those who are enemies of freedom that their cause is doomed and that freedom will prevail. May God bless us all and may God bless America.