Thoughts of the American Pride Persuasion

I sat, mesmerized as I watched the “Breaking News” of the past 24 hours – Osama Bin Laden, Dead. What? I can’t really deny my mixed feelings about posting today. I don’t normally jump into the political rings but I can’t deny the HUGE news that swept our nation yesterday. So, this post has been thought out, a lot, typed really slowly, every word, intentional.

Which is a huge leap from my normal ramblings of a Monday morning.

We were sitting on the couch watching a movie, the movie ended and Eric turned on the news, and we watched, in awe.

Just like September 11^th, I’ll always remember where I was when I heard the news. I can’t say I was ready to strap on a flag superhero cape style, and run up and down the street chanting “USA… USA… USA” like hundreds and thousands of other Americans in DC and New York, but then again, I wasn’t near ground zero, in Pennsylvania or at the pentagon the day that Osama Bin Laden became a household name.

The American in me wants to be happy and thrilled that the “Undesirable #1” was finally caught and killed, and that the thousands of Americans who lost their loved ones over the past decade, and the Americans who are overseas fighting for my freedom feels that justice has been served. The Christian in me pains for the rejoicing of a dead man – it just feels weird to my core. 

I'm conflicted, not in the "I wish we wouldn't have caught him" sort of way, just in the "I don't know how to feel, because celebration feels weird".

But you can’t deny that the blood of thousands of American’s are on Osama’s hands – that alone makes me furious, and sad.

History has been made, Osama is dead after nearly a decade of a hunt – Obama is a hero to some for pulling the trigger. Wow. America. You never cease to amaze me; and I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or not.

The thing that scares me though is the fact that revenge is bound to happen. Osama is dead, Al-Qaida is not; his followers have only deemed him a martyr – we still have a lot of uncertainty ahead of us.

That being said this is an appropriate time to say Thank you to our Troops. Thank you for keeping us safe, guarding our freedom and fighting a fight that will help others lead a great life. You are valued, and loved, and we’re behind you. If you see a serviceman today (or any day) shake their hand, and simply say thank you for their service to our nation.