I try not to write about politics because I am a very opinionated person, sometimes too opinionated and prefer to keep things to myself, if I can. Tonight my brain has become so stimulated with thought that I have to get this out and down on paper (macbook=paper nowadays). So here is what I have to say...
I felt sick today when I heard about the news. First, I saw that Gadaffi's family was murdered, yes murdered not killed. Then, I read Obama's address to the world where he suggests: "Justice has been done." The words justice and death, justice and war, justice and violence together are oxymoron's, so let's not be morons and use them together. When we are young we are taught, "two wrongs don't make a right", this still applies today, yet we don't act like it does. When British Prime Minister, David Cameron said that Osama's death: "[brings] great relief to people across the world," he forgot to not generalize because I am not one of those people.
I am not suggesting in any way or form that terrorism is okay, or that 9/11 was okay. It was an awful day- but we are continuing a vicious cycle.
Osama was guilty of a campaign of pursuing "global terror". What was life like for people in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Serbia while NATO bombed civilians, like they continue to do so today in Libya. It was terrifying- the Western world spread unnecessary terror by using violence to establish peace.
And then I read garbage via facebook and twitter that celebrates, acknowledges and makes fun of that fact that a man was killed. No matter who Osama Bin Laden is, or what he may have done, no ones death should be celebrated, no ones.
What fuels fundamentalists and terrorism is Western Oppression- yet we are never at fault, it is always them.
In school we study Hitler, Hussein, Osama, Stalin and war criminals in the Former Yugoslavia etc. The world's most dangerous criminals who killed thousands of innocent people.
Wait...what about Truman, and the leaders of China and Britain in collaboration with the United States, who supported the active deployment of nuclear weapons over Japan in 1945 and killed hundreds of thousands of people. We talk about holocausts and ethnic cleansing- what do we categorize this event as? Civilians were killed- people like me and you, because someone thought it was necessary to deploy nuclear weapons, which still have residing effects on Japan today. Why are we forgiving of this? I am not suggesting we should be forgiving of Hitler's Germany, rather that we can't point out the wrongs of others, while hiding our own wrongs.
What about the Chretien and Clinton governments that bombed Serbia without UN resolution and continued to bomb them past the allowable time limit until they must declare war. Why are their actions allowed- actions which were largely condemned by numerous scholars and politicians. Why is violence still used to try and create peace, have we learned nothing from history?!
What about the ethnic killing of Indigenous people in Canada, and all around the world, that still occur till this day. We point to the Middle East and tell them they are wrong, and tell them how they should conduct their everyday lives, yet we neglect the people that founded the basis of this country. We put them on reserves, we neglect to search for missing Aboriginal women, and we neglect to help the needy. Yet, we are an example country on how neo-liberalism and capitalism are the only ways to attain the best life, how democracy is suppose to be conducted, what it means to have the rule of law, and what it means to have a functioning society. Really? Canada can't even get people out on election day, nor does it have a system that allows for representative representation, yet we are an example? Though we are lucky to have governance that allows for a freedom of speech and security, we also have our imperfections.
I am lucky to live in Canada, a peaceful country. I am grateful. I lead a happy life. However, I am burdened by the way politics are conducted in the West and I can't help but point to the weakness and inappropriateness that exist in the operations and politics that ensue today.
Today America celebrates:
Ten years ago they celebrated:
We are perpetuating a vicious cycle. We were disgusted by the footage that emerged of Palestinian's chanting after 9/11. How do we feel when we see this kind of footage? This "momentous" day in American history, has already lead to the discussion that Osama's death signifies a significant threat to America. CNN already suggests that "threats of retaliation" are expected. Again we are exposed to the idea that violence breeds more violence and is not the answer to peace. I pray to God that this does not signify a proliferation in more unnecessary attacks.
The fight against terrorism is a fight that will remain unsuccessful as long as it is a fight. I write this because I hope it will encourage some of you to think more about what is happening around us and to question what it is we really believe in. Don't watch the news and take it lightly. God gave us a brain to use, so please, please, please USE IT! Keep your government accountable. Keep yourselves educated. Think about the important things in life every once in a while.
Osama's death does not signify any kind of end or success- it signifies yet another failed opportunity to create world peace. There is a better way. Those of us who have been exposed to violence, war and its tragedies know that force and violence are not the answers.
"When Liberty comes with hands dabbled in blood it is hard to shake hands with her."
-Oscar Wilde.
