The End of a Decade of Terror

We've all heard that a special forces team found and killed Osama Bin Laden. It's the end of a decade's worth of his brand of terrorism.

But I caution against gloating.

"Convince an enemy, convince him that he's wrong
Is to win a bloodless battle where victory is long
A simple act of faith
In reason over might
To blow up his children will only prove him right"

History Will Teach Us Nothing - Sting

We've just made the man a martyr, for which hundreds will die just to add their glory in his death.

What I think what would be more productive and healthy for us all, since we must share this planet, like it or not, is to send blessings to all those who have fought and must continue to fight. Our military is extraordinary and strong, persistent and willing to do the job most of us cannot. The men and women who can do this job have my gratitude and blessings. Give thanks, gratitude, to the positive things; it's useless to glory in the hate and anger. It only shows our opponents they were right all along; it only spurs their hate and anger of us.

I'm not an idealist. I don't believe in peace at all costs. I'm a realist and it seems the most realistic to focus on the good that has happened since the first attack in September 2001. Bin Laden won no points that day from the world's perspective because his attack on the World Trade Center was indiscriminate; if he was targeting the Americans, he failed miserably and killed several people from other nations. I am glad his hate and fear mongering has ended, but to revel in his death only shows that the arrogance of which he accused us is accurate.

Perhaps, now we should show our greatness by our capacity for compassion for those people he has hurt; not just the Americans, but also those in the Middle East, who continue to suffer and hate us merely for our nationality because of his teachings. I urge everyone to count your blessings today, not only that you're alive and healthy, but that we have a strong military, the ability to see different perspectives, and we can move on from this moment, like we did from September 2001, with the intent to do better.

I encourage you to see the historical significance of today, to revel in gratitude and relief at the end of a decade of terror. I encourage you to count your blessings. And I hope that you'll find compassion in your heart instead of gloating and self-righteousness. Many blessings to you all.