**So with it being a new month and since I launched this site on May 1st, I’m gonna get myself in writing trim by doing 30 posts in 30 days. At this point, I’m not setting a specific time of when I’ll post. Not gonna give myself rules (yet). The post will go up when it goes up sorta like my…yeah. Some days I may put up 2 posts and others I may put up one. We’ll see how it goes.**
This looks really familiar...
If you can’t fall asleep before midnight like me, you saw the news that Osama got his mind pushed right by Jack Bauer. Everybody was goin’ bonkers online (rightfully so to a degree) and it seemed as if any blogger in a flexible niche was scrambling to put a post together to ride the wave of traffic and climb up in the SEO rankings. I could’ve done the same, but I was fatigued and my brain was picketing. I also wanted to have some time to digest the significance of what happened and talk to a few co-workers since I work for an international nonprofit that has an office in Pakistan. So yeah, I slept on it. Pause.
I woke up this morning at 630 feeling a little uneasy. Given the magnitude of bin Laden’s death and the fact that he still has strong supporters in the United States as well as hot beds of terrorist activity around the world, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that his death would expedite the execution of something deadly. It wasn’t too long ago that God or the Ghost of Final Destination was on our side in Times Square when that van was full of explosives. It wasn’t too long ago that a young (black) man boarded a trans-Atlantic flight to Detroit with explosives in his pants. It also wasn’t too long ago that UK officials thwarted an attempt by terrorists to “disrupt” the transportation system. So in my mind, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched for terrorists to systematically make trains in NYC the last ones that people would ride ever. Yeah, it’s scary. That’s why they call it terrorism.
Turning on the news before I walked out of my apartment probably wasn’t the best idea. Every station was replaying the president’s words. People were jubilant in the streets of DC. Americans were rejoicing and already falling forward into a false sense of security. It was and continues to be really strange. This is the 2nd time that I’ve seen us enthusiastically celebrating someone’s death — the last time being when pictures of Saddam’s body laying in a slightly bloodied sheet hit the news waves. And even when he was hanged, I don’t think people showed such a “happy” reaction. It’s understandable. Saddam was a dictator that was responsible for the deaths of many…outside of the United States. Osama’s impact is permanently markered into our history and we’re all still feeling the effects today in the form of either lost loved ones, airport requirements, or police officers present where nearly 10 years ago they were non-existent.
I made it to work safely. As much as we in the office all wanted it to feel like a regular or triumphant Monday morning, I think we were all lost in reflection and harboring a certain level of discomfort that we hadn’t. experienced in years. It was great to see justice served in Pakistan, but there’s something about Americans cheering in the streets that is very familiar. There’s something about waving our flag, high-fiving, and indulging in all sorts of celebration that seems eerily similar given the circumstances.
Very familiar...sans the whole flag thing.
Think about when the Twin Towers fell. Think about when American or allied lives were loss in great numbers over the last few decades. Do you remember what the news showed us from the countries in which these plots originated and were supported? They showed us pictures and videos of locals waving their flags, burning the American flag, and/or celebrating the fact that they were — if even just for the moment — victorious. Now what did we do today in celebration of the death of someone held in high regard elsewhere? I see a resemblance that makes me really f*cking uncomfortable.
I’ve asked myself a few questions over the course of today. Does this monumental death make us any better off? Did we really get redemption or are we setting ourselves up for it? Would we have been this collectively jubilant about bin Laden’s death had those planes not hit the Towers and the Pentagon? And even more specifically to Black people, are we excited because this happened during Obama’s presidency? Realistically, the cost of bin Laden’s life was enough to buy Barack four more years in office. Is that what we’re celebrating in our communities or is it that we’re just down with the common patriotic American still feeling the sting of 9/11? Did the media really steal Obama’s thunder by breaking the news, or did it allow those most heavily impacted by the terrorist attack to feel a modicum of retribution in the lingering wake of lost family and friends?
From the outside, we look like a united state, but I just can’t help but to wonder how much more divided we’ve become as a result of what’s happened. I hate to be cliché, but only time will tell. I think we all still have a lot of thinking to do. In the mean time, I’ll be racially profiling like the rest of us in major metropolitan areas wondering if that one could be that one. C’mon now. I’m not saying it’s right, but it’s very real.
I still don’t think we’re #winning,
I honestly don't know how to feel about all of the media coverage surrounding Osama's death or the death period. I've seen a lot of mixed comments on FB floating around. I do feel a little paranoid, especially living in a major Metropolitan city.
We'll see what happens next.
and 30 in 30 is No Joke but I'm sure you'll do fine, good work Sir
30 in 30 will be a beast. I will probably be cursing in front of a glowing screen at obscure hours.lol
Americans need to be careful to not be too arrogant. Killing a man doesn't kill the ideas. Terrorism is real & we should know that we are not immune.
When I found out last night, I felt the same way I did when Pres. O was getting ready to make his speech after he won the election. I was excited yet scared at the same time.
Personally, I don't think the U.S. should be celebrating the way that we are. Although its understandable I don't think its acceptable. Just like you stated, its reminiscent of what they did when the twin towers fell.But to each his own I guess…
Also, I don't think the fact that we killed Osama will cause an increased amount of acts of violence towards us. We have to remember that the terrorists were going to terrorize us regardless. Whether Osama is dead or alive the threat is still there. Instead of acting like the threat level was down prior to his death, we should tighten up. What will be detrimental is if we let our guards down because of this victory.
Yeah, I think we should we should be more cautious with the terror level. I was surprised at how few police or anything I saw yesterday.
This is tough…I felt some kinda way about the celebrations too. I mean, I heard Osama was dead and was like "cool, that can't be bad" and went right on back to playing Super Mario Bros 3. But later when I caught up on Twitter and watched Obama's speech and realized how huge this was for us, I got a lil more hyped and realized that I was happy that a man lost his life…still not sure what to do with that.
I am sure that I'm happy for our President.
I'm also sure that we haven't won and many more people will always be around to instill terror in us.
And I am afraid.
When I read a tweet praising that someone just missed a bus or just made a bus, or called in sick to work…there's a sense of foreboding…one that had faded since 9/11 but was resurrected with Osama's death.
Life's not a movie. There's no tidy wrap up. We just keep pushing.
We can't subscribe to comments?
<–High Maintenance
You can. It's at the top of the comment section. I subscribed via email and rss and it worked fine. If you do have issues though, please hit me up on twitter or email me at slim @ therealslimjackson dot com
Duh, thanks. I’ll be plucking that blonde hair that snuck in there…
I understand the “WHY” behind the celebration..I just don’t think it was appropriate…we are still involved in two wars..or is it three? We are still in a recession, unemployment is still high…
Osama had been hiding for ten years..I almost forgot about him (in fact I had) until the news broke…I was like “Osama”…Oh, yess…..it was just a very unexpected thing to hear..but, I was happy in the sense that finally we have some form of justice for 9/11 survivors and loved ones of those who died…
But, as many of you, I am apprehensive about what the future will hold for Americans..as far as retaliation is concerned…so, it is a bitter/sweet pill to swallow.
We aren’t winning. I actually just felt like “oh” when I heard the news. I guess the commentators ruining the moment (I was waiting with anticipation to hear from MR. PRESIDENT) just didn’t do it for me. Its just not in my makeup to celebrate the death of any human being, regardless of what he stood for. I just can’t. I’m often conflicted with serving justice and being a compassionate human being. I’m still very cautious for what the outcome of this will be.
i'm sorry but i will never think its ok to celebrate the death of a human being. i don't care what he/she did and even if they are the symbol of justice being served. you're absolutely right. the coverage of people celebrating in front of the white house looked oddly familiar. it really didn't sit well with me. good post.
Queen, Reecie, Tunde: Happy to see yall made it over to the new site. Thanks for checking it out. Looks like we share similar sentiments about this with a couple small distinctions.
Fam, I'm a cynical bastard and you know that more than most. Osama's death didn't trigger some huge explosion (pause) of joy within me (pause?) for a couple reasons.
1. He's no longer the leader of Al-Qaeda. He's a figurehead for the American people, but not in the Middle East. The ideology he represented back in '01 has spread so much there isn't a core representative anymore. It's just a bunch of wild cats from small towns all over the place.
2. They've known where he was for a long ass time now. They just finally got the green light to get from whatever country they were waiting for. CNN pulled up a Google Map of Osama's compound right after he got sniped. You're telling me the Feds and the CIA couldn't find him for 10 years? C'mon son.
3. Gas is still high and the troops are still in Afghanistan with no word on when they'll be returning.
While I'm happy that there's some sense of closure for America, the 9/11 victims and that chapter of American history and that Obama has another thing to tout, this shit is far from over.
Sort of happy that I moved to the Midwest,
Seattle
After hearing the news about Osama dead I couldn't help but think what does this mean for my Muslim brothers and sisters. Can they finally live in peace? Can they finally be American? But then I soon answered my own questions that Muslim's in America will forever have a target on their back and would never fully be considered American. But its interesting to note that two days before this our president citizenship was begin questioned but now he is more American and patriotic. What does that say about America/Americans?
This is definitely something to think about, as I agree that we are probably setting ourselves up and couldn't find it in myself to celebrate anyone's death. Enemy or not.
I'm with you Slim, i'll also be racial profiling. It's gonna get real serious out here.
I still don’t think we’re #winning,
I don't think we're winning either