Confessions of a 20 Something: And Now a Moment of Silence
May 4, 2011By Ana Guthrie

Americans aren't the type to dance on anyone's grave. That sort of jubilee seems rather bloodthirsty. As a whole, it's not our style.


Since Sunday night, however, when word spread that Osama bin Laden was killed, crowds throughout the country have been two-stepping, tootsie rolling, waltzing, butterflying or salsa dancing, depending on who and where you are.


Indeed, bin Laden is to radical Islam what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was to our civil rights movement: an icon. Unlike MLK, bin Laden was far from non-violent. His crusade was fueled by a jihadist doctrine that called for the killing of Westerners-particularly Americans, Jews-particularly Israelis, so-called "weak" Arabs and others. Bin Laden's terror roster includes the August 7, 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. These attacks killed over 200 people. Also, in 1998, truck bomb explosions at US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania killed 224 including 12 Americans. Then in 2000, Al-Qaida claimed responsibility for strike on US destroyer Cole at Yemeni port of Aden. Seventeen soldiers died. Most notably, bin Laden was the mastermind behind the 2011 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon as well as the Twin Towers, which killed another 3000 people.


Understandably, then, thousands of Americans feel avenged by his recent murder. And, despite their uncanny acidity, captions like "Rot in Hell" and "Got Him!" decorate newspaper front pages. A palpable sense of vindication hovers the country. It wasn't just that bin Laden was killed; it's how. The oft-mythologized terror kingpin was killed on the spot when two dozen Navy SEALS swept into his compound.


The troops did it stealthily. In the middle of the night. Swiftly. In about 40 minutes. Unharmed. Made it out without a scratch. Victoriously. They managed to take bin Laden's body as well as Al-Qaida intelligence.


It could be that those who drowned in grief after their loved ones were killed on 9/11 or any of the other Al-Qaida attacks feel avenged that officials decided to slide bin Laden's body into the ocean.


Maybe those who had cried for poetic justice may feel at peace with the fact that, apparently, bin Laden was shot in the left eye. Perhaps, this all symbolizes the "an eye for an eye" passage, they are saying.


It's also likely that those who questioned President Barack Obama's leadership-indeed, his citizenship or sense of belonging, to boot-will see he's proud to be an American and simultaneously zeroes in on multiple crises while remaining cool. He's now dubbed Juggler in Chief or Barack of all Trades.


All of this is understandable and even expected. I'll speak for myself, though: America needs to now take a less celebratory approach. We should consider being more reflective, meek at this moment.


I'm inclined to think the President feels the same, for he decided just hours ago that he will not release photos of Bin Laden's corpse. I agree, Mr. President. Not only could the gruesome photos be used as Al-Qaida recruitment propaganda, but bin Laden may forever be encapsulated as a martyr. Above all, at this juncture, when Al-Qaida is not countering news of bin Laden's death, what do we have to prove...and to whom?


I propose that-especially on today when we commemorate the 60th Annual National Day of Prayer - we take the time to seek God about our nation's direction as well as its directors. Let's have faith that the National Day of Prayer will never go away, since some have declared it unconstitutional. It's more than serendipitous...it's divine...that President Obama is slated to give a speech from New York's Ground Zero, on this day, the National Day of Prayer.


Maybe parades and rallies ought to be traded for moments of silence - not as much for bin Laden but for anyone who doesn't know Christ.


bin Laden's death is a blow to terrorism, yes. Notwithstanding, my prayer is that we as a nation don't become puffed up, but take solemnly the responsibility to be good stewards of our freedom. Let's hope that we remain vigilant, lest another terror attack finds us. And we should be interceding for America...that God orders our steps...and that no weapon formed against us prospers.







Ana Guthrie is a super cool chick with a heart for God and love for youth culture. She doubles as a not-so-naughty librarian and instructor at Florida Memorial University in Miami, Florida.



Visitor Comments (1)
Agreed!
Posted By BCHEVOLLEAU on May 14, 2011
When we think about the emotional and physical (deaths) effects Bin Laden has had on our country it's easy to want to rejoice in the fact that he has been killed. But people are taking it to another level. One victory should not overshadow the constant battles we are facing. Therefore it is much more beneficial for us as a people to unite prayerfully than to spend time cheering over one mans death. Agreed!
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