Osama bin Laden is dead. I heard this news yesterday morning as I was driving my kids to daycare. When I confirmed what I thought I heard, moments later, I broke out in to a tearful laughter. So abrupt was my outburst that Ellie asked me what was wrong. I could only reply with a very bad man is dead. It was the strangest mix of emotions that I have only felt on three other occasions since my stroke. Now that I have had a chance to mull over the feelings, I know they were a mix of Joy, Relief, Sadness, and Empathy. Joy and relief, that we were able to eliminate this evil man. Sadness for the lives he destroyed with his radical ideology. Finally, Empathy for his wives and children as had to live in secrecy and hiding not to able to enjoy the outside world or live a normal life. I am certain that his wives did not have a choice in the matter not did his children. I hope that they can learn about his evil for themselves and not continue the cycle of violence. I have read that evil begets evil. I have lived the last ten years of my live with the knowledge that he has killed or orchestrated the deaths of thousands if not millions of innocent people of all faiths. I do not celebrate his death because that would be counter to what I believe. I believe that in death, we should treat all people with respect, not contempt. For it is in giving that we receive. Everything ends; Osama bin Laden has met his. Only God can judge him now.
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