The End of a Road...

I woke up this morning and saw on the news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed by US Special Forces (Navy Seals, I think). Finally, after nearly 10 years, something of a conclusion. Is anyone REALLY surprised that they found him living in luxury in a palatial mansion in Pakistan? Or that it was only about 100 yards away from a Pakistani military academy? Is it just me, or does Pakistan seem like one of those two-faced "friends" that you never really want to turn your back on? Maybe they were clueless... maybe.

I'm not sure how to feel about some of the celebrating in the streets I've seen on news videos. On the one hand, the orchestrator of the mass murder of thousands of people on 9/11 has been eliminated, and that's a good thing. According to reports, it was clear that he did not intend to be taken alive. I have absolutely no qualms about the end he met. But I just don't think that this is a time for jubilation and dancing in the streets. That's the kind of thing I expect to see from the other side when they down one of our planes, or bomb one of our buildings... I always hope that as Americans, we can be better than that. I'm also wondering what kind of retaliation we can expect from Al Qaeda and/or other terrorist groups. The radical extremists are not rational, and don't appear to want anything other than the extermination of the West and all we stand for. But then, most radical extremists are like that, regardless of what religion or other credo they believe in. Why can't the human race just accept each other's differences and agree to disagree? Why do things have to get violent so often, especially over religion? ESPECIALLY when the basic underlying concept of all the major religions I'm vaguely familiar with (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism) is to respect your fellow man and treat him as you want to be treated? Mankind is not so kind.

I heard a caller on the radio today say something to the effect that it's sort of a waste of time to be fighting a "war on terror", because war just increases terror and fuels hatred. And that statement rings true, but what CAN we do to end terrorism? I haven't a clue. Hopefully someday we'll figure it out. For now, at least one of the worst instigators of hatred and terror in the world is no longer a threat. Unfortunately, I'm afraid there's probably no shortage of other people who aspire to take his place. Heaven (whatever kind you believe in) help us all.