37

I am 37 years old today.  Yes, today is my birthday. It is 5:21 AM.  I am quite amazed that I am 37 years old.  I don't know why, but it feels a older (which, of course, it is).  I have meant to post more frequently, so I am going to do.  now that I am 37 (such a milestone!), I am going to post 30 times in 30 days.  I do not expect all of them to be good or master pieces (not that my previous posts have been), but still, the posts are coming.  I like writing, whether it be short stories, my opinions on a wide range of topics, or simply stream of consciousness  musings about the goings on in a particular day.  

As for today, I am writing to declare that I can not celebrate death.  In the aftermath of the Osama  assassination, and let's not fool ourselves, it was an assassination, I can not join the thousands, if not millions, of people who celebrate the death.  After seeing the various videos that have been released, I am even more disgusted by the celebrations.  This is not to say that I do not understand why it was done, or that Osama's  death may, ultimately, be a very important step on the so called "war on terror" (war on terror seems similar to war on drugs, a lot of money going into a slogan that sounds great but gets us nowhere), but celebrating death is not something I will take part in.

The irony, of course, in the pictures of college students, and other citizens, hopping around in celebration is remarkably similar to the pictures from the Middle East after 9/11.  Does anybody involved in those celebrations recognize that?  do they see that perhaps we are not as different as we would like to make ourselves out to be?  Clearly, what we did was not a terrorist act, but celebrating death of anybody is wrong. I am uncomfortable by it and, frankly, it is disappointing that so many people celebrated his death. 

Earlier this week, I found this quote :

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that"

Of course, now, there have been articles that show this quote is not from Martin Luther King.  Frankly, I don't give a shit whether it is an MLK quote or a quote from John the bum who lives under highway 40.  The point of the quote is the reason that I, and probably others, posted the quote.  It is interesting that articles come out proving it is not an MLK quotation, but no articles (I found) discussing the point of the quote and discussing if, perhaps, it is a quote that we should read, consider, and perhaps try to remember when we are celebrating the death of another human being.

Lastly, though Osama was clearly a man whose beliefs made him justify the deaths of thousands of innocent people, do we want to believe that certain deaths are justified?  do we want to be the judge and jury for those people we believe deserve to die?  I am not ready for that responsibility.  I won't take it on.  I will not celebrate death in any form or of anybody.  

I believe it is wrong to celebrate death.  

Remember, this is just what I think.

Be well.  

--cp