The Death of an “enemy”
As news of the death of Osama Bin Laden, the man said to be responsible for the 9-11 attacks, fell on the ears of the world I could not help but be baffled. First, I want to state that I in NO WAY believe ANY KIND of terrorism, murder, hate, massacre, or genocide is acceptable under any circumstance. I do not agree with the funding or plotting of terrorist groups, hate crimes, etc. Hate turns us into beasts and morphs us into animals instead of humans.Sometimes even the necessary things, like eliminating terror or evil, still isn’t “good”. It’s sad, sad that it even had to come to that. Why do we even have terrorists at all? Humanity can be ugly sometimes. So why make it uglier by REJOICING in other’s pain or grief?
As a Christian I often struggle with war, killing, and how we preach about how useful it is in our churches. I am baffled. I am baffled by our blindness at times and yet I do not know how to cure it, especially my own blindness. In my own life I look in the mirror and try to be as “fair” and “just” as possible… but then I realize that my own faith tradition does not look at justice like the world does. My faith tradition looks at mercy, circumstantial mercy in a sense, but mercy nonetheless. But I digress…
As news of a terrorists death hit the news stands, television, and web blogs many rejoiced. Chanting rang through sports arenas, cheers broke out in public places, and many felt a sense of pride or satisfaction. Relief I could understand, closure I could understand, and even a sense of security or safety I could understand… but rejoicing in the death of another I could not understand. I couldn’t help but be at least a little sad for his wife, and his family. Even if they are considered to be “evil”. My God tells me to love my enemies! So as I heard the cheers, laughter, and excitement for the death of a human being (even a “bad” human being) I felt sad for my species. I felt sad and ashamed that we could be so cruel and so ignorant. How can we be any “better” if we behave towards them in their loss as they behaved toward us in our loss?
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (NIV)
So the rejoicing of the death of an “enemy” does not set well in my stomach. All day today I searched for words to describe how I felt, to grasp what I was thinking. Sometimes you don’t have to agree with actions or approve of someone’s beliefs but you don’t have to rejoice in their death either. And then I read this quote that defined my feelings perfectly, Martin Luther King Jr. Once said:
“I 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.”
