Victim's Dad: Why I'm Not Celebrating Bin Laden's Death

As the father of a 23-year-old son murdered by Osama bin Laden's suicide killers on September 11, I understand the joy expressed by so many Americans today on the death of this monster. But my thoughts dwell more on my son, James, and the thousands of bin Laden's victims; not just the dead of 9/11 but soldiers killed during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Cole attacks, the embassy bombings, Mumbai, and on and on.

So although I don't disapprove of the patriotism and happiness expressed around the nation in the past day, I can't say that I feel the desire to participate in the celebration. Bin Laden's death won't bring James back.

The word "closure" is often used at a time like this, when talking about the loss of a family member, and I suppose that is the way for sympathetic people to show their concern. They are expressing their hope that the victims' families will somehow reach a condition where the pain is lessened by the passage of time.

For me, that pain is as strong as ever. There is never "closure."


http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/02/gadiel.son.killed.bin.laden/index.html?hpt=Sbin READ MORE

 

To me you are one of the Many that have a right to comment on the event, His actions affected you and your family directly, I find it so annoying when people say he should have been taken alive, I'm not sure now if he was shot by a Soldier, or shot himself, was Armed or Unarmed, but then I don't really care, because as a Tax payer I would object to paying for a trial, or keeping him locked up.

Maybe one day Idealists will look around them and see the world they have created, Yes it would be nice if everyone was content to be passive, equal, but I'm afraid that that's not in everyone's Human nature, and that their are times when aggression has to be answered with aggression to prevent the passive from becoming victimised.

 

Closure is an over used word that seems to have lost its meaning. To me it means, or used to mean, something that closes a circle with some form of justice. For those who merely sought justice for bin Ladin the matter is resolved and they can move on to other things.

Closure was never meant to mean an end to grief. Some magical happening that will make it go away. If among the grief stricken there are those who could not begin to the real process of grieving with him still walking the earth, that is a form of closure to the extent that they can now move on to whatever their next step may be. I seriously doubt that there are many of those people.

The word justice has also been used and it probably is closer to a defining word for these events than closure. That being said, if justice is a balancing of scales then all we can to is inch closer to it. All we have achieved is as much justice as was attainable against this one monster. Hopefully he died the cowards death that some have reported. Hopefully he looked into the faces of the SEALs and prayed it wasn't true. I'm afraid that is as much justice as could be achieved.

 

you are so right BeeCeeBee

There will never be a closure for the horrendous murders of innocent people
made possible by the sick minds of a terrorist and his followings.

His death is a blessing,
but closure of a loved one lost, especially by this mad lunatic
will remain forever to those that have lost their loved ones.

The fact that he did get a partial portion of his just desserts
softens the blow.

 

sorry I missed this post MATCH
says a Lot.
tHANKS