Monday, May 02, 2011

thoughts on Osama bin Laden

I typically post my sermons and such as I have gotten out the habit of blogging. Perhaps this is a chance to get back to it. The recent news of Osama's death has been interesting to watch, especially through the eyes of social media. Many posts I have seen are patriotic and celebratory.

Now, I will not deny that this man has been responsible in some way for countless numbers of death around the world over the years. But does that fact make it right to celebrate his death? Does the loss of life ever warrant celebration.

Hitler, Saddaam Hussein, and others of this sort need to be stopped, but loss of life is still loss of life. Marked with solemnity and reverence for life, not a party like atmosphere in front of the White House.

I think what causes me to pause most is the number of pro life folks who seem to be all about the death of bin Laden...does that not seem strange? How they value a human life that has not even been born but yet celebrate the death of another? I had a friend point this out to me several years ago and caused me to rethink my position on the death penalty.

Death of bin Laden - justice done or just a human life lost?