On September 1st, 2001, I was driving to Lapel High School for a choreography rehearsal when Dan Rather of CBS News came on my car radio to shock the world with the news of planes crashing into the Pentagon and Twin Towers. I listened live, as first one, then the other tower fell. Stopping to watch the happenings on a truck stop television off I-69 I stood with a bunch of folks I didn't know. The one things I think we all knew, though, was that our lives had just changed forever. The next month may well have been the worst of my life, filled with endless tears, feelings of loss, dreams of violence and fear, and overwhelming feelings of despair and sadness for those victimized in the 9/11 attacks.
Bin Laden was a monster of the worst kind. Religion wasn't about love, forgiveness, reaching out, caring for widows and orphans, spreading goodwill, seeking the earnest will of a savior who died to save us from our sins. No, for him is was about murder, destruction, vengeance, domination, chaos, and fear. It was a religious fanaticism marked by suicide bombs, violent plots, death of innocents, and hatred,....plain, pure, vitriolic hatred.
Because of him, I spent 6 hours in a blood bank on 9/11 waiting with hundreds of others to donate. Because of him, a decade long war and the loss of thousands of American and allied lives has been the result. Because of him, the phrase "thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears" no longer stands true. Because of him, mothers can't hold their husbands, children can't have their parents tuck them in, and somebody will forever be missing at the dinner table. Osama Bin Laden, I can't begin to tell you how glad I am that you're dead!
This won't end the war on terrorism by a long shot. In fact it will probably even ramp it up in the short term with more suicide bombs and pointless tragedies. But this deals a symbolic and terrifying blow to Al Queda and the Taliban. Their "Queen" is dead. Their champion of the rally cry has been lost to a hail of USA bullets, each tipped with a red, white and blue reminder of "we said we'd get you". Although I can't stand President Obama, I take this occasion to be fair and tip my hat to him. President Obama, I hope you lose next November because you're ruining our country's economy, but today I offer you a hearty congratulations and heartfelt thank you.
To the USA military and the courageous heroes who killed him and those around him without ANY collateral damage, I say praise God for each and every one of you. You've done the unthinkable, and tracked down an animal that had evaded us for years by crawling through caves and misrepresenting the true heart of his own religion. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
And now Osama, there's somebody I'd like you to meet:
"Osama, this is Satan."
"Satan, this is Osama."
Enjoy those virgins.
No comments:
Post a Comment