Radio Smart Talk for Wednesday, May 4:
On social media, in the blogosphere, in the media, and maybe even at your own dinnertable, there's a lot of handwringing today over how we should have reacted to the news that the most wanted man in the world, Osama bin Laden, was dead.
What's not in question is how many Americans did react: crowds gathered outside the White House, and at Ground Zero in New York, to cheer the news from President Obama that "justice [had] been done." Baseball fans chanted "USA! USA!" at the Phillies game. While some comments on social media were thoughtful and reflective, many were glib (I read numerous variations on "Ding dong, the witch is dead.")
Then, the morning after, the debate began: Should we cheer? Is it morally justified to celebrate the murder of someone so undeniably evil? Are we sinking to his level? And are we being honest with ourselves about how we feel? Are our attitudes different publicly than they are privately?
You may find those questions easy to answer. Others may not. We'll explore the moral implications of the reaction to bin Laden's death on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, when we talk with criminal defense attorney Scott Foulkrod, who teaches philosophy among other courses at Harrisburg University.
Also, as part of witf's Facing Cancer Together, our interactive multi-media effort to connect the stories and lives of people touched by cancer, we'll discuss cancer prevention with Susan George, Director of Cancer Prevention and Control for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and hematologist/oncologist Dr. Roy Williams.
LISTEN TO PROGRAM:
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Something is very wrong with America.
Militarism demands a swayed populace------without public support war efforts soon lose their allure.
I think we have a brainwashed citizenry here.
As for what Osama Bin Laden was...?
As much legendary as factual. His death without his disclosure of his real role in events prior to the Afghan/Iraq wars conveniently hides that truth.
We were lied to by our leaders on those wars:
were we also lied to about who and what OBL was, and did....?
I am suspicious of it all.
Since the event, I have been wondering why we consider it justified to celebrate the death of any human being, particularly since Bin Laden nor or any one person could not have been singularly responsible for the terrorism enacted here or around the world in the name of Al Qaida.
I am disheartened by our celebration of violence, which seems to be causing us to ignore the continued danger and the sadness that this is what our world has come to.
Our reaction seems to be a movement toward escalation, rather than wakeup call to make us think about how to de-escalate worldwide violence and terrorism.
How Should We Respond to the Death of Osama bin Laden? - Jim Wallis - God's Politics Blog
blog.sojo.net
This morning most Americans are feeling a sense of relief at the news that Osama bin Laden is dead. He was truly an apostle of hate, a dedicated purveyor of violence in response to every grievance, a manipulator and distorter of religion for political purposes, and a man responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. Nevertheless, it is never a Christian response to celebrate the death of any human being, even one so given over to the face of evil. Violence is always an indication of our failure to resolve our conflicts by peaceful means, and is always an occasion for deeper reflection.
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In the mean time Barbarity exists and we must ask our representatives to practice it, as effectively and if possible, as rightously as practicable.
Because I am a Christian, I believe that he, too, was a child of God. No death should be celebrated. I was deeply distressed by the immediate reactions.
Please re-read that famous Hermann Goering quote until it sinks in:
"Naturally the common people don't want war......"
The caller who challenged what Scott said, and reminded him that it is a CHOICE to kill someone---
or in the case of war many someones--- was entirely correct.
We were NOT given that choice by our leaders.
America was carjacked by its leaders....and as occupants we were told to sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Looking at the Americans' jingoistic glee of the death of OBL reminds me of 1984 and the reception by the proles of the news that a new great war victory has been achieved, political theater.
People can have two or more reactions, celebration and then reflection.
I think most people who celebrated will begin to reflect as days go by
However I understand and respect others who celebrate. It's enourmously emotional and folks express those emotions in all sort of different ways.
On a side note, if you had people providing this feedback directly on your Facebook page, I feel you would get a far greater response and feedback. I almost didn't come here, because I thought "great, yet another website where I have to enter my info" My guess is that stops many people from commenting, whereas the ease Facebook provides is incredibly convenient.
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