Proud to be an American

It was a long day. Church. Visited the parents. Got rear-ended again. Hung out at a friend's BBQ. When we finally got home I spent a few minutes catching up on my Twitter feed. Twitter was buzzing that Osama bin Laden, founder of the al-Qaeda terrorist organization, was found and killed during a US-led raid in Pakistan. More details poured in and President Obama was about to address the nation. I shared the good news with Tary and we rushed downstairs to turn on the TV. I was exciting hearing President Obama come on and confirm the reports.

An overwhelming sense of pride came over me. President Obama said it best; justice has been done. A man responsible for 9/11 and the deaths of millions of innocent people was finally brought to justice.

I was proud to be an American. I was proud of our president for authorizing this operation and its outcome. I was pleased that we did not simply blow up the compound because people would doubt that bin Laden was actually inside. I was proud that 24 brave Navy SEALs flew into enemy territory, dropped down like [butt]-kicking ninjas, and took care of business.

As proud as I was our nation, our president, and our troops, I was equally disappointed by some of the ignorant comments of some Americans who criticized how Americans reacted to the death of bin Laden. Some of the ignorant comments included:

"Killing does not solve anything."

"Violence leads to more violence."

"It is wrong to be excited about the murder/slaughter of another human being."

If you are one of those unpatriotic backward-thinking people, you should be ashamed of yourselves and I am embarrassed for you.

First of all, killing Osama bin Laden's was not about "solving" anything; it was about justice. He was the mastermind behind most of the world's terrorist activities. If you think "killing does not solve anything", do you think other leaders of mass genocide (e.g., Pol Pot, Adolf Hitler) should have been allowed to live? Imagine how many lives could have been spared if they were brought to justice.

Bin Laden's death does not lead to more violence. Inaction leads to more violence. Terrorists wanted to kill us before he was killed. They still want to kill us after he was killed. Countless lives were spared now that their leader was eliminated and they are forced to regroup.

People need to open a dictionary and look up the definitions of "murder" and "slaughter". Let me edu-ma-cate you. Murder is defined as the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being. Slaughter is defined as the killing of animals (as for food). Bin Laden was not murdered or slaughtered; the US had the legal authority and responsibility to hold bin Laden accountable for his crimes.

I am tired of Christians and non-Christians alike telling me how I should feel based on what they think God feels on this subject. Yes, I know it is wrong to rejoice in someone's death. Yes, I know that God is the ONLY true judge. Yes, I know God is a God of peace and love.

However, did YOU know that God is WRATHFUL against those who sin against Him? Did YOU know that God HATES murder? Did YOU know that the punishment for murder was death? Even if bin Laden begged for forgiveness, trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior, and became a Christian in his final moments and was granted eternal spiritual life, he still have to face the punishment for the crimes he committed in his physical life.

I am not celebrating bin Laden's death. I am celebrating that he can no longer brainwash others into killing innocent people for no reason. I am relieved that the families directly affected by 9/11 can finally have some closure. I am celebrating that bin Laden's death sends a message to terrorists worldwide that if you attack the United States and her people, you will pay the price.

God Bless America.

P.S. Here is a humorous quote regarding the members of Navy SEAL Team 6:

"I'm almost positive that all he heard were fist bumps and chest bumps from the SEAL team on their way out. Those guys are so overwhelmingly [awesome] that I'm sure their manly celebrations make more noise than the stealth choppers they rode in on." ~TendoMentis