Mother's Day is coming up, and instead of images of childhood and innocence, and joyous wonder, here on the heels of the announcement on May 1st(the death of Osama bin Laden), it is only death, destruction, and shame and fear, which threaten to consume my thoughts.
Mother's Day celebrates not only Mothers, but us who sprang from them.It is we who lift up our Mothers as those who nurtured us in the most crucial of ways, offering support and love--if we are so blessed--unconditionally, and forever, to us.Mothers are those who see the best we have to offer; we are never the worst act we've committed; we are first, and always, that Mother's child....
Just days after the announcement of the killing of Osama bin Laden, I pondered on my Facebook Wall, whether we (USA) should be "celebrating"(in private or public), the death of anyone, even (or maybe especially) an avowed enemy, like Osama bin Laden.The responses on Facebook, had the negative ones been in red ink, would have made my Facebook Wall appear as if it was bleeding. I was expecting a few "attaboys" from my more conservative(read:right-wing) Facebook Friends, but did not expect the kind of non-apology, and blind acceptance/following by my more Liberal and Progressive Friends, of our (USA) committing violence in the name of (ironically) putting an end to violence."
I think it surprised me, because I have "reasonable" friends...all of them were hurt by September 11th, some of them very directly so, and none of them supported our invasion of Iraq, though several supported bombing Afghanistan.Most of my friends, poets, actors, novelists, playwrights, spoke of understanding and compassion; they spoke of moving forward, not holding onto "blind hate." They SPOKE of it, they WROTE about it, but I am not sure that I ever saw or felt true forgiveness exhibited, in any of these (otherwise fine) folk.
One person in particular may surprise you, my readers, with his views on Forgiveness, as he was working approximately 800 feet from the Twin Towers that fateful September 11th morning...
I'm considering asking dear ol' pal, Dan Kinch from NYC, to guest-edit my blog, "Lisa Alender Writes" and perhaps "Practice What You Peace" for a day or two, as his own personal narrative is so compelling, that for me to tell it, would I'm afraid, never do it the thing we all wish for, and seem to keep speaking about.....justice.
Stay tuned.
For more on how to feel about Osama bin Laden's death, or perhaps how to re-frame it, please go to:
www.paxchristiusa.org
to read a statement by them, about this matter.
And Peace, kids, Peace.
5 comments:
I, too, wrote about my discomfort about the spontaneous celebrations that erupted after the announcement of bin Laden's death. Your connection to Mother's Day was very eloquent.
the question that stayed with me after the news was whether the scenes of jubilation outside the white house (crowds yelling u-s-a) were any better than those of Bin Laden's supporters when they cheered at the success of 9/11
The world is clearly a better place without terrorists - but i think "justice" is an odd word for killing someone - a trial would have been my idea of justice.
The thing we should be remembering is that we in the west have this cozy idea that we are somehow better and more moral than other countries - so its sad when we dont act that way
Galen--Thank you.I'm headed over to read your words, now...
Pixies--You said EXACTLY here, what I said on my Facebook Wall.I was stunned so many folks were "happy, elated", etc., over a death...of anyone....
And yes! EXACTLY like the celebrating others(in Middle East) did, when seeing our(USA) pain at 9/11. :(
Good riddance to OBL. But what “justice” is there to celebrate when the Bush/Cheney war criminals are never going to be held accountable for their terrorizing and killing hundreds of thousands more people that bin-Laden ever dreamed of killing?
Dave dubya--Ihear ya, man.I hear ya.And I feel ya. Thanks for commenting.
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