Spontaneous celebrations broke out; most significantly at ground zero and the White House, but also at numerous college campuses. Chants of "USA" and the like filled an almost tailgate like atmosphere. And with the jubilation came the usual hand-wringing from certain corners on how a death can elicit such a brutish joy from a whole population. These debbie downers are fundamentally wrong in their moralistic concern.
A short thought exercise if you will. In a parallel universe, Osama was captured yesterday. I would dare say the same visceral joy would be on exhibit. If he was locked in a cell awaiting trial, and suffered kidney failure resulting in death, Americans would not take to the streets to celebrate.
We celebrated as a nation, and specifically as students, because the demise of Osama Bin Laden marks a bookend in our world experience. I was alive for the fall of the Berlin wall, the first Gulf War, and our action in Bosnia - but I don't remember them. I have vague recollections of OJ and OKC.
But 9/11 is vivid. 9/11 slapped my 12 year-old consciousness out of sleepovers and junk food. My teen years, as well as every other college students', was in part defined by the War on Terror. Emerging from the limitless 90s, our world was now colored by a looming threat. After anthrax, DC sniper, botched bombings, TSA screenings, and 2 wars later, we have some closure. We have justice. No one claims our wars or international terrorism is over, but the elimination of Osama brings us just a little bit closer to the morning of September 10th, 2001.
It hasn't been the best couple years stateside, for anyone. But this accomplishment, this justice served, brings us a national sense of pride in what America can still accomplish.
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