I’m like a guy with a cut straw standing before the line of _______ chopped out on the top of the toilet tank in the stall of a bathroom in a place where the music kicks the walls. I keep lifting the red plastic hose to my nose, starting to lean in, chanting a silent mantra of fuck it/fuck yeah in my head, pushing the powder askew with quivering fingers, poised, but something stops me. I keep straightening back up and cursing my conscience, the splinter in the middle of the party. I want to cheer Osama bin Laden’s death and I really, really try to. A strong impulse shoves me to do so. But moral philosophy—or at least my blurry tornado that resembles it—keeps twisting me up like an Alabaman mailbox. How can we cheer the death of anyone? If we do so, aren’t we somehow worshipping the same God he did? Bring violent death upon innocents; bring violent death upon the guilty. An eye for an eye. Of course, that’s America. We are a Judeo Christian nation of law and morals. And some courageous young man (or woman) just pulled the card of an evil Muslim anarchist. That I cheer, actually—I mean whomever it was that got to lean five pounds of pressure on that trigger. I’m sure to him, or her, it felt like praying. No. I’m not sure of anything. Maybe she cried. We all do.
6 comments:
I also feel like you. My doubts range from right to left. Although I know of the wrong doings of this man, I can also understand what urged him to do what he did.... Easy to judge when you are not there and have not felt foreign pressure on your land...
Nicely expressed, and I think, your thoughts are shared by many many across the world.
that is how i felt too when i heard the news and as i think about it now. i just cannot bring myself to cheer or rejoice in the death of another human being. it's saddening to me that this is the world we live in. i understand the feeling of relief or somber satisfaction of knowing justice has been served (especially for those directly affected by bin laden's cruelty and the loss he inflicted), but not the celebration and glee i see on tv.
thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I have to say I agree....mostly I find it puzzling that so many are so, well, elated is the only word for it! That seems more about "ha ha! We got you! So there!" feelings, and I don't get that - it doesn't bring anyone back, and it doesn't provide closure. I heard that a lot on the news today. Closure. Will give the victims' families some closure, help us move on to this next chapter, etc.
(On another, unrelated note, i like the "where music kicks the walls" line. And also i think you hvae a drug fetish. :) love you!)
Mr. Stings does not have a drug fetish.
I dont believe any of it. Makes me sick the reaction this country's people had towards the news.
Who's the terrorist now?
Annyway, O.B.L. is probably drinking piña colada in some lost island...
Don't believe anything they said, it was convenient to do this.
Post a Comment