After the 9/11 attacks and the deaths of over 3000 people, we were appalled to see video of Palestinians and other Muslims dancing and cheering in the streets. We thought them sick and evil for rejoicing in such violence, tragedy and carnage. Now many of us are doing the same thing. We have allowed ourselves to be brought down to their level; allowed them to make monsters of us, as well. While I'm sure this does not sit well with those who are looking for an excuse to kill us and our freedoms, their vengeance isn't really the main reason for my concerns.
What really concerns me about these celebrations is the fact that more people have died, and thus have lost their opportunities to repent, and that some other person had to do it to them, and that act must abide in their souls forever. While I'm sure that justice was done (see Doctrine and Covenants 134:8,11), and that the military operatives who carried it out don't feel bad for it, the truth is that the taking of life has a cost, whether we see it now or not, and these acts dwell in our national conscience, as well.
Osama bin Laden was a deluded and evil man, and the cause of much evil, sorrow and trouble in the world. But he was also a son of God. To someone else, he was husband, to another, he was father, and to others, friend. And while these relationships don't justify his heinous acts, our recent acts still create heartache, sorrow and trouble for others of our Heavenly Father's children. And, it's very likely that at least one of those children will rise up to avenge his earthly father--we have not yet seen the end of this drama.
But, aside from all of these things, the Lord has told us:
"Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him." (Proverbs 24:17-18)
And:
"Now, I speak unto you concerning your families—if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded;" (Doctrine and Covenants 98:23, see verses 23-48 for details)
I wonder what rewards we are sacrificing in celebration of our vengeance.
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Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? (Psalms 10:1)
2 comments:
Even though I'm not rejoicing in his death, I'm willing to cut those who are a little slack. While I can't speak for the motives of everyone, and it is certainly possible that some hearts are not in the right place, I think the rejoicing is more that justice was done and also that many families have closure. I don't believe that this rejoicing is at all comparable to the rejoicing of those people after 9/11. They rejoiced in the slaughter of innocents. We are rejoicing that an evil murderer will no longer be able take innocent lives. Big difference.
OBL will still have a chance to repent in the next life if he wishes(perhaps his mind will be changed when he realizes that it's not 72 virgins that greeted him in the Spirit World). Heavenly Father knows exactly what is in his heart and will judge him accordingly.
Justice was done.
Sorry, one more thought:
Another reason why I'll cut them some slack is that there has been absolutely nothing good coming out of Washington in so long that it was kind of nice to briefly have confidence in our leadership. Very briefly.
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