The News

God I am in an odd place today, well last night and today. While I am certain that the world is a better place with one less mass murderer in it, I just can't work myself up to celebrate it.
Instead I watched the partying in the streets outside the White House and my house and felt like a stranger in a strange land. I guess I feel that celebrating one man's death in such a way gives him more power and credit than he ought to have. Yes, he hurt us as a people, but to throw a party for his death suggests he is somehow more important than in my mind he really was. Moreover I can't help but wonder what it says about us as a people that we are parading in the streets at one evil man's death, when this morning as I drink my coffee, my fellow Americans are still in harm's way because of the spread of global terror networks. Part of me wonders if our reaction will not embolden our enemies.
Last night I listened to the President's speech intently, hoping for some sign that this terrible war would be coming to an end. I couldn't help but notice that he said nothing of the sort. I can't help but worry for my friends overseas, and my friends at home who have loved ones serving. Will today be any different for us, for them?
I couldn't help but wonder at the FB posts, including "America, Fuck Yeah!" and "United We Stand" from people who just a week ago were telling me how entitled military spouses are and how military servicemembers just need to get a grip as they come home bruised and broken. We didn't seem all that united a week ago. I couldn't help but wonder how long this national fervor will last before they again deride the very Armed Forces they now argue they've been supporting all along, but then I guess everyone backs a winner, right?
Maybe I am an old soul, but I am aggrieved by the hatred, violence and destruction in the world. I am glad that the person who masterminded the 9/11 attacks has met justice, but it doesn't fill the hole caused by all the lives lost. It doesn't stop the spread of terror. It does make us look exactly like the people who celebrated when they killed American servicemembers in Fallujah. This is probably the first time in my life where the phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On" seems appropriate. Yes, I suppose achieving this death is a military victory for the US, but I think we should all carefully consider the path ahead. This man's death doesn't end terrorism or the war and we need to keep our eyes on the fact that our men and women are still in danger. They are still coming home in need of assistance. Their families are still hurting from a decade of war. The President's measured address summed up in my mind the attitude we should have: measured resolve. That is to say that we will do whatever it takes to defend our nation and to bring to justice those that abuse innocent people, but we must also walk quietly amidst the noise, focused on the objectives still ahead.
I hope that today cooler heads will prevail and people will realize that carrying on like it's the 4th of July gives entirely too much power to a man who doesn't deserve anything more than a hole in the ground. I am glad he has the opportunity to now meet his Maker and account for what he has done, but that doesn't undo what he did. It doesn't bring the lives lost back. It doesn't change the fact that we are still at war and that our men and women in arms need our support every day.