It would be hard to not have heard the news by now: On Sunday May 1, 2011, the United States killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. As I heard the news, it almost sounded too good to be true. This was the most hunted man in the world for almost a decade. He had eluded capture from one of the most sophisticated and advanced armed forces in the world. Two leaders of the free world had failed to capture him (until today). I think many Americans might have given up hope of ever finding Bin Laden alive, but hoping he had died somewhere in a cave, while we prayed the US would never see another 9/11.
As the news filtered in, it was hard to believe until we could hear it from President Obama. As I listened to the President tell the world, Osama Bin Laden, was indeed dead, so many feelings were recalled. The terror of 9/11. I don’t think anyone who saw images from that day will ever forget them. Seeing people jumping out of the World Trade Center as it burned from airplanes being purposely crashed into them by terrorists. Seeing the scorched earth in Pennsylvania where Flight 93 had collided- not fully realizing what had happened. Watching the Twin Towers crumbling, and realizing our innocence, and security had crumbled right along with them. The lost innocence- our world had changed in a matter of minutes. We all were in shock and mourned these things, but the majority of American’s hearts were broken on 9/11 for the loss of innocent lives, and for the pain and suffering the victim’s famlies, friends, and loved ones were left with.
I was 28. I cried like most people did. I knew the world would never be the same. My unborn children would never know what it would be like to live in a pre 9/11 world. As the days, months, and years followed, we, as a nation were horrified. Bin Laden’s attacks on the United States did change our world, and we have lived with them every day since.
Last year while I was in New York, Amy and I thought about going to Ground Zero. Neither one of us could do it. I got emotional just thinking about it. Almost 9 years later- it was too painful, too fresh, and too sad. Having lost my mom a few months before, I could not contemplate having to live with the fact every day that a loved one was murdered by terrorists.
I had tears in my eyes as I listened to President Obama’s announcement tonight. This man, this evil coward terrorist, who murdered thousands of innocent people, was truly dead and gone from our world forever. It doesn’t bring back the innocent, nor can we ever go back to the world before 9/11, but somehow, all of a sudden, the world feels a little safer than it did this morning. I heard on the news, one 9/11 victim’s son say, “The face of evil is dead.”
To all the armed forces and their families: thank you for all the work you have done over the years, with much sacrifice at times, to accomplish this feat. Politics aside, it is the hard work of these people, who put their lives on the line who are truly heroes every day. Politically, I think this is bigger than just one political party. It obviously took both parties a lot of effort, determination, leadership, and help from other countries to kill Bin Laden. It wasn’t a Democratic or a Republican victory, but it is a victory for the United States, and really the world.
The events put into motion on 9/11 are not events to be happy about. But is the death of the man who started these events reason to be happy? Yes. I am happy Osama Bin Laden is dead. I am happy that he will not live another day to murder another innocent person. I am happy the master mind of the evilest terrorist group in the world will not have another chance to personally influence another person. I am happy the victim’s families of all the innocent people he murdered directly or indirectly can go to sleep tonight, knowing he is gone. As a mother, I’m elated as the world changed for the worst on September 11, 2001, today, my children now have a world where Osama Bin Laden’s sickening and evil influence has been reduced.
The world has suffered with Osama Bin Laden in it, and I can only hope it improves with him out of it. This is hope, and this is our future.
I was reminded of a quote tonight, and I’m not quoting it to be political, but I think it sums up the events of May 1, 2011 perfectly.
“Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and fear are at war. Our nation – this generation – will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.”
George W. Bush, 9/11/2001