In September 2001, the American public was outraged when shown video of Muslims celebrating in the streets the death and destruction in NY. Now we do the same thing. NO, it's NOT different. People are celebrating a 'mission acomplished.' That 'mission' took the death of over a million Iraqis, Afghanis and Pakistanis to get Osama..."
-Ryan Nelson
I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." -Anonymous (falsely attributed to MLK JR according to http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/05/out-of-osamas-death-a-fake-quotation-is-born/238220/The death of Osama Bin Laden has certainly elicited a lot of passionate feelings from many people. Truth be told I felt a slight sense of relief upon hearing the news, and it's very normal and to be expected--it's a historically very significant event! Osama was a reprehensible figure who wreaked havoc in many parts of the world.
I was among millions who felt scared post 9-11 (of course that might because I've suffered a traumatic event of my own that may have triggered my own traumas). As a survivor of a traumatic event, I do understand that Osama's death can provide closure for many who were A) in the NYC area during 9/11, or have ties to the NYC area and/or B) Lost a loved one during 9/11 or know someone who did-- because, yes, Osama is directly at fault. This is absolutely normal and I think we should all have compassion for people in this situation.
But 9/11 was not an isolated incident.
If it were then I'd say "Woo-hoo, we won!" and join the rest of the country in unabashedly celebrating. But unfortunately, in the grand scheme of things, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, and the U.S. are all players in the millenia-aged game of geopolitics. The rise in anti-American extremism in the Middle East didn’t happen because of overly simplistic reasons like “Muslims don’t like our freedoms.” The U.S certainly contributed to it, but by no means was it a sole contributor
The U.S. has historically used its narrative of freedom, justice and the pursuit of happiness as a tool for expansion of territory for money and power. It was built on the backs of indentured white servants, but above all, Africans forced into slavery; it territorially expanded through the genocide of Native Americans via displacement and European diseases.
Then in the post-WWII when it became a world superpower, in the name of "democracy," the U.S. funded right-wing governments and trained their militaries (btw, the CIA trained Osama Bin Laden to defeat the Soviets) which then, as in El Salvador, for example, killed and tortured our families; and then when they fled to the U.S., in the name of geopolitics, the U.S. refused to legally recognize them as refugees because that would have meant admitting to backing governments that were committing human rights abuse--it would have been politically embarrassing.
Then after 9/11 continued being complicit in human rights abuses, this time, directly as it had in Vietnam and other Cold War-era military operations.
However, the U.S. isn’t the only reprehensible player even in contemporary times, as other national and supranational groups like Al Qaeda have contributed to fueling the violence. And of course, the U.S. is one state in a long line of states in Asia, the Middle East and Europe that have historically committed atrocities in the name of consolidating power. But it is the world's current super power and it has a unique role in how the world is shaped; thus it should be scrutinized more closely than other national and supranational entities.
The U.S. has its citizens/inhabitants and the rest of the world believing that it stands for freedom, justice, and the pursuit of happiness; but in actuality it has historically proven that it stands for greed, corruption and power. So yes, if you believe Osama’s death is a victory for maintaining the U.S's political, economic and military hegemony in the world, by all means, celebrate it.
The game of geopolitics (and I use the metaphor lightly) has historically been played and perpetuated cycles of violence. So will oppression ever end? Will racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia ever be eliminated? Will violence between peoples of this world ever cease Probably not. But I will continue to value humanity and work to end the ills of this world. I seek not the destruction of this country that I was born and raised in, but rather, a materialization of the values it discursively states it holds into iits relations with peoples within and outside of its borders.
Realistically, we can’t change the world overnight; and even some things that we do or say will contradict our ideals. But this is the paradox of having grown up in and now living in the belly of the capitalistic and oppressive beast, and now our challenge as we get older is to try materialize the oppression-free world we dream of in our minds into real life as much as possible. Every little bit of progress is progress.
I will end with a quote by my good friend, Adrien Salazar
The young and radically minded among us may have to take oppressive work in order to survive. We must however fortify our minds against economic colonization. Remember what you work for, no gain but the gain of the people. It is not easy. There are forces urging your assimilation. Work, buy, do not make a ruckus. Deny that. Make yourself a stone in the gall of the beast. Remain vigilant. Remain radical.
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