Dr A and Rahvin have adequately dealt with the conspiracy notions (laughable) that will come from this, and the legitimacy of handling of the body.
It is true that the official describing the burial at sea remains unnamed, but I am in total and complete agreement with comments above that this was appropriate, in order to prevent any gravesite as serving as a shrine of sorts. Hopefully the entire Arabian Sea won't now serve that purpose lol.
I am exhausted from a day of debate on Facebook with family members... I expressed (early on) my sense of disgust at the dancing-in-the-streets, Yee-haw attitude many of them had about this. Make no mistake, he was a bad guy and needed taking out, but to engage in mass celebrations and joyfully proclaim "Hallalujah" is just... disgraceful.
One of my cousins (in America, I am in the UK) posted his similar unease with this, saying that it was sort of an "Americanised Allahu Akbar" taking place... and I think that's a fair assessment.
I don't question people's happiness and jubilant reaction, I too felt a brief sense of victory and pleasure upon first hearing the news. However it only took me about 30 seconds to realise that there is something inherently wrong about celebrating the death of another. Yes yes yes... I know he was a monster... but he was a HUMAN monster... and I don't celebrate the death of fellow humans, I just don't. I hated Billy Graham with a passion but I didn't celebrate in the streets when he died lol.
Anyway, this issue proved polarising throughout the day for my family, some of whom ended up in tears. The right-wingers seemed ready to pounce anyone that said anything that wasn't drenched in red-white-and-blue sauce. My brother insulted me in a dozen ways before removing me from his friend list on Facebook. And all I said was "This doesn't really change much, and I find the dancing-in-the-streets reaction distasteful." - to which he unloaded on me, saying "the UK is doing you wrong... what are you thinking" and "9/11 ... so shut up" lol (which reminded me of the Family Guy where Lois got elected mayor simply be spouting off "9/11" in response to every query.)
So... I'm a bit unhappy as the day comes near to a close, unhappy that American politics has become so polarised that one cannot apparently hold an independent opinion that doesn't fall in lock-step with one of the two major parties without somehow being branded either "a traitorous liberal" on the one hand, or a "flag-waving sycophant" on the other.
I sleep now, happy that UBL is gone, but fully realising that the world is NOT somehow a safer place.
Edited by Briterican, : No reason given.
Edited by Briterican, : Too eager to comment initially, took my time now.
™ Version 4.2
