The Death of Osama bin Laden, the Conflict of Emotions, and Hope for America

It's not until now, about 30 hours after I heard the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed, that I really know how I feel. I've felt much. Written much. Not all that is written is fit for print—or publishing to a blog—however, and so I have been waiting, trying to determine what I really feel. The most important thing, I think, is summed up with this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (from his book Strength to Love): 

‎"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.”

I grieve what happened to America with those 9/11 attacks, but I just don't have it in me to celebrate someone's death, even someone like Osama bin Laden, one of my country's worst enemies. 

I do take some joy in it. I'm grateful for our military, and I'm glad that they and our President have been able to take this enormous, important step forward in their mission. I hope that this gives those so deeply, deeply hurt by the 9/11 attacks a sense of closure and relief (see picture below), because justice has been done. I also hope this expedites the war. I hope that this gets our men and women abroad, our loved ones and fellow countrymen, home sooner than later.

I know that, no matter how many potential Miss Americas wish for it, the world will never know peace. Our country has before, though, and can again. Peace is more than the absence of war. Peace is healing, wholeness, strength. We need our military men and women home. We need our nation secure before we try to secure the rest of the world. With the economy still crippled, our political parties feuding worse than ever, and our society selfish as ever, we're not there yet, America. But we can be. This was a monumental step that direction.