Fighting wars on behalf of others

There's a constant debate in America over whether we should be fighting wars for other nations. We've done it in Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and others. I've often jumped on the bandwagon that we should not be getting involved in the business of these countries.

Yet my inner history buff reminded myself the other day that the only reason our country exists is the French were kind enough to help us fight our common enemy, the British.

So was France's foreign involvement justified? And if it was, does that justify our current foreign involvement? France certainly didn't have the resources to be fighting the war, just as America hardly has the financing for the wars we're fighting.

Should we be asking ourselves if maybe our present-day involvement in foreign wars isn't quite as wrong as we've thought it was? Or should our history books be frowning on the French for making such a foolish move and helping the poor American rebels?

Osama bin Laden's death: a military victory worth celebrating

The U.S. has been fighting a war whose primary opposition leader was Osama bin Laden for almost 10 years. 5,992 soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bin Laden's death marks a tremendous military victory against al-Qaeda, our primary adversary.

When news arrived that bin Laden had been killed, immediate reaction was predominantly excitement and celebration. Finally - FINALLY - we had succeeded in bringing down the man behind the massacre of thousands of innocent lives!

Fans at a Phillies game started chanting, "USA! USA! USA!" People expressed hope that we'd be able to publicly celebrate the U.S. military team who was responsible for bin Laden's capture and death. One popular (and mis-attributed and fabricated "Mark Twain") quote said, "I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure."

It didn't take long, though, to see a much different, more subdued reaction. Around 2.5 hours after the news broke, I started seeing posts like, "Remember on Sept 12, 2001, when you saw people in some places abroad celebrating death? Exactly. Don't be like that." Many people circulated a (fabricated "Martin Luther King, Jr.") quote that said, "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." Another post said, "[R]ejoicing in or celebrating another person's violent death is [messed up]. Let's quietly move on."

Our country just experienced the most significant military achievement in years and we're supposed to "quietly move on?"

Throughout history, newspaper headlines have screamed the news and ticker-tape parades have been thrown when the U.S. has succeeded in battle. While I appreciate the reminders from so many that death is evil and shouldn't be celebrated, victory in war -- bittersweet as it is --should be celebrated. Victory means life for those who win and, presumably, the defeat of death and evil.

We do not celebrate the death of a man, evil as he may have been. But we do celebrate the military victory that death represents.The world is a safer place with Osama bin Laden dead, and that is something worth celebrating.

Social media responses to Osama bin Laden's death

As soon as the White House announced last night that Obama would deliver a national security-related statement, speculation over the reason erupted. Presidential announcements just don't happen at 9:30 PM on a Sunday (or 10:30, for that matter, which is closer to when Obama eventually gave his statement).

Twitter let the cat out of the bag on the news first. Donald Rumsfeld's chief of staff tweeted,

So I'm told by a reputable person they have killed Osama Bin Laden.

That was tweeted at 9:24 PM and was retweeted by someone I follow at 9:28 PM.

Over the course of the next few hours, that news was confirmed in President Obama's address and reactions flooded Facebook and Twitter.

Here were some of the most noteworthy posts of the night from people I follow:

9:38

I would say 'Mission Accomplished' but it's been done and it isn't.

9:47

If anyone has a horribly embarrassing bit of news they'd like to bury, now would be an excellent time to disclose it.

9:48

I'm already bored with the Osama dead story. So 4 seconds ago!!! What do I gotta do to get a Charlie Sheen update!??

9:50

Osama Bin Laden is dead? I want to see the long-form death certificate.

9:56

Learned Osama Bin Laden is dead via Twitter at 9:34pm. Learned Osama Bin Laden is dead via NBC at 9:48pm. #twitterFTW

9:58

Take that Osama!

9:59

Does this mean less airport security ridiculousness?

10:01

Saddam, Usama, next.. [Posted to Facebook by Michele Bachmann's Chief of Staff]

10:02

[Waiting for Obama to make his statement] Obama is just busy printing up a "Mission Accomplished" sign.

10:07

[From comedian Jim Gaffigan]I In lieu of flowers Al Qaeda has asked that you buy tickets to one my shows http://tinyurl.com/6lnykv

10:08

Osama may you rest in hell...

10:10

I've never been so happy to hear that somebody has died. Woot woot!

10:13

Seriously? He was in Pakistan? Pakistan: How could you do us like that, bro?

10:20

Hey @BarackObama please start talking. CNN is embarrassing themselves.

10:22

Lara Logan: "You have to get Bin Laden to win, but getting him doesn't mean you've won." Great way to put it.

10:23

Anyone tweeting partisan bulls*** right now is totally missing the point. #usa

10:25

i'm honestly gonna go out and buy an american flag tshirt right now just so i can wear it to school tomorrow. USA USA USA

10:36

I'd celebrate our troops coming home from Afghanistan but Hussein's been dead for 4.5 years & they're still dying in Iraq. :(

10:41

Foursquare confirms that Bin Laden just checked-in @ Hell.

10:45

Nice job @BarackObama , CIA, and armed forces. Pakistan, I'd like to talk to u in my office.

10:49

Many soldiers on my flight. Passengers shaking their hands. Lone naval officer now getting praise as we learn seals carried out attack

10:50

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Fans at the Mets-Phillies game began chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" as the news of Osama bin Laden's death spread through Citizens Bank Park on Sunday night.

10:52

Rah rah US. Gratuitous flag waving. Three cheers for Obama. Now can we get the TSA to stop groping Americans? Kthx.

10:58

Hope US military team responsible 4 Osama bin Laden’s capture & death R identified. They deserved 2 B publicly celebrated.

10:59

Crazy to think it took 10 yrs. 1/3 of my life.

10:59

Gas prices will be back to $2.00 per gallon tomorrow right?

11:21

phillies fans break out into chants of USA, USA, USA...got chills!

11:25

May 1st, 2003: George Bush gives "Mission Accomplished speech aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

May 1st, 2011: Barack Obama actually accomplishes mission

11:29

"I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." -Mark Twain.

11:48

God have mercy on his soul.

11:54

the four words OBL probably wasn't expecting to hear...I never knew you

12:06

In front of the white house a few thousand people are here, great friendly celebration!

12:19

[Same person from previous tweet in front of the White House] Crowd is chanting "obama obama you f***ing killed osama"

12:31

Wow! That's amazing. Someone tweeted raid. RT @henrim: This is unreal. @reallyvirtual live tweeted the Osama raid. http://bit.ly/irso4Z

7:50

Remember on Sept 12, 2001, when you saw people in some places abroad celebrating death? Exactly. Don't be like that.

9:05

He was a demagogue and mass-murderer. But rejoicing in or celebrating another person's violent death is f***ed. Let's quietly move on.

Many Christians seemed to find themselves wondering if they should celebrate or feel sadness for the loss of Osama bin Laden's soul.

I think Proverbs 11:10 may provide some direction on this:

When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

Of course, others have noted Ezekiel 18:23:

"Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?"

I didn't agree with everything that was said last night, but I enjoyed the summary of individual analyses that Twitter and Facebook provided.

I also thought the proverb, quoted by someone on Twitter, was a good reminder that celebration is part of this experience. Osama bin Laden was an evil man who destroyed the lives of many people. His death marks a victory in the war that is worth celebrating.