Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead!

Well, it’s all over the news. After 10 years, the wicked witch of terrorism is finally dead. Apparently there are happy people dancing in the streets at various locations around the world. Apparently this is a huge victory for the USA. Apparently this will send a message to terrorists all over the world. Hmm….what exactly is that message?
When I heard the news this morning, I was strangely unemotional. Why am I not rejoicing? Why am I not feeling victorious? Why am I not impressed by our country’s ability to send a message? Why am I not at least satisfied that he got what he deserved? Am I the only one, besides those in his own network, not rejoicing?
Honestly, I feel more like sighing. My heart is heavy with the realization that we have learned very little over the years in regard to terrorism. Rather than feeling proud to be American, I can only wonder who we really are as a country.
Don’t get me wrong. One of my favorite pastimes is to read fiction and the fiction I choose to read is all about the elite forces and the plots they try to foil. Because I am such a chicken liver, I think I like to live vicariously through the fearless characters in the fiction I read. Through them I can be a navy seal or a CIA agent or some other elite squad member. There was a small part of me who was impressed by the fact that it was a navy seal team who did the deed. The event will no doubt be fodder for many more books for me to read about our elite forces.
When I am not in the world of fiction, but in our very real world, I am concerned. What does justice mean anymore? Why was Bin Laden treated so differently with a blanket order to kill? Or, do those orders get carried out all of the time all over the world without our knowledge. Was Bin Laden really that much worse than some of the dictators who have slaughtered hundreds of thousands in Africa? Why don’t we send elite forces in to “remove” them? At the end of the day, was this about pride and saving face? I will not mourn for Bin Laden. My mourning is closer to home. My grief is related to our false sense of who we are as a country. In the end, are we really just wealthy thugs?