Is it wrong to celebrate Bin Laden's death? | Hacker News Reader

Is it wrong to celebrate Bin Laden's death?

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10 pointsc0riander11 comments

Obama should have addressed that. Then he would actually have lived up to that Nobel Peace Prize he got

Obama didn't apply for the prize and certainly didn't campaign to win it (Wanted to scale up the fighting in Afghanistan). Why should he change the way he behaves based on what a foreign prize committee decided to award him?

The prize is a symbol that, like it or not, sets precedent for the recipient's future behavior because this person sets the precedent for the everyday man. Especially with the peace prize.

Secondly, hes a leader. Not only that, hes a liked leader. Being the leader of the world`s leading superpower, his reaction will set the tone for the rest of the country, if not the world. By not addressing this particular issue he is portraying himself as nothing more than a messenger of good news. By being implicit about this, he is playing it safe (for the upcoming elections, no doubt).

I like him. Its not too late, he can go on the air right now, take charge, and address the issue.

Additionally, Americans celebrating the death of an individual like they just won the Stanley Cup is no better than when Iraqis took to the streets dancing after killing Americans in Iraq. This alone is a sign than the likes of Osama have succeeded in bringing America down to their level. I hope people realize that and not continue with these `celebrations`.

FYI: If it matters to you, I'm a Canadian.

Although, it occurs to me that perhaps Americans do feel very relieved and thus the celebrations. But I would only expect this reaction from a people that has been oppressed like the subjects of Saddam Hussein, not free and capitalizing Americans.

The event was unarguably newsworthy, but I think this sort of discussion is best conducted elsewhere.

It's something I've felt a bit awkward about.

I think it's fair to be happy he's gone. And to feel relief that he's over.

I think there was no real option other than to execute him and bringing him to US soil to prosecute would have been too much. In fact, it was probably the most humane thing for him.

I don't think it's fair to chant U-S-A and to feel pride over killing a human. In my opinion, a more appropriate gesture would be a moment of silence for all those who've died because of his creation of al-Queada.

He's over? He'll be inspiring generations. Martyrdom works.

Yes.

I feel bad for the celebrating Americans who seem to believe that terrorism is something caused by Osama bin Laden and that it would magically go away now.

Yes.

Celebrate the lives of whose whom bin Laden had adversely affected throughout his life of crime. All those lives, lost. All those soldiers dead and injured, their lives spent in the name of hunting him down. Their bravery and sacrifice now made worth it on this day. Bless them. Bless them all, and may they and their families find rest and closure.

Think about those who perverted bin Laden's mind as a young man, the environment he grew up in, and those who poisoned him and turned him into the killer he became. Think of how his life might have turned out if he'd embraced peace instead of terrorism.

Think of those lives he might never have ended before their time, and the world we'd have had since 2001 if he'd never come close to causing 9/11. A more peaceful world. No DHS, no Patriot Act, no TSA, no body scans. People allowed to wear shoes and carry bottled water onto a plane.

Nobody fearing their neighbours just because they're a different skin colour. Bigotry on its way to becoming a thing of the past.

Celebrate the world where the things he has done are now in the past, and you have a far better future ahead of you. Celebrate all of that, and turn your mind to creating the conditions for peace to return to the world once more.

Peace.

A far better future ahead of us?? I'm not sure on what basis you declare that this will be the case. Osama Bin Laden's death will not end the Orwellian slope we're slipping down.

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