keep your thinking cap on mr president

The President of The United States went on TV a few nights ago and stated that bin Laden is dead. Since then it's been reported widely in the press that they used DNA from his family members to confirm his identity and visual as well as other means of identifying him before his burial at sea.

Not long after a statement by Leon Panetta was released that our government had considered releasing their pictures of his dead body to convince those who don't believe he's dead that he is. Or better said to publicly confirm his death for the world to see. Personally I think those people who don't believe it won't be convinced if they aren't already. And I hoped beyond hope that the President would reject it.

I had to ask myself what was the point is for their release; these pictures would be cause to enrage some and just fan the flames of all manner of conspiracy theory as to their authenticity. I know there are many who thrive on conspiracy theories about all manner of subjects especially when it comes to the honesty of our government.I am also convinced that those who engage in this type of behavior are usually not going to be convinced to change their minds when given facts, they believe in conspiracies after all.

We have to consider that there are other governments of our world who have a less than friendly view of the American government and hate Americans, others who don't like our government but like American's. And of course the terrorist and those who sympathize with their cause, we know who they are, nuff said. Would  we really be convincing anyone serving a cause by their release? I seriously doubt it.

I don't know about you but rarely am I convinced to change my mind. I form a decision and that's all she wrote, I'm rather decisive about most things. When the news reported that a US Navy Seal team had found and killed Osama bin Laden I didn't have a doubt. I believe he's dead and I personally believe the release of these pictures would have been a bad move and rather barbaric display an un-American action driven by un-pure motives.  It's time to move on, continue fight the war on terror and most importantly we need to support our troops while doing this.

Over the course of composing this post the President has made his decision that the photo's won't be released and touted as trophies. Way to go Mr President right decision, that thinking cap is working I see!

osama - death of a terrorist

Last night as I was watching one show on the big screen in the living room my husband yelled the news to me from the den; Osama bin Laden is dead. I can vividly recall that day, when the phone rang and my daughter Gretchen called from work in tears to tell me to turn on the TV and in horror I saw the first tower fall as we spoke. Who thought that any human being could conceive of this type of evil, nor would I have ever have dreamed that I would have witnessed such an event in my lifetime.

The days that followed we heard that people we knew lost their lives in those towers, innocent people doing what they do every day working- making a living expecting to see their loved ones at the close of business. And of course we can never forget the fireman, police officers and other emergency persons who lost their lives doing their duty; New York's finest fallen-may you rest a bit easier each and every one of you. Then of course there were the attacks on the plane and the Pentagon.  One can hardly imagine how the families must be feeling right now, reliving their worst days over again with the news of his death.

picture courtesy of mirror.co.uk

I turned on the news after my husband told me of his death, I like every other person on the planet wanted to see what the President Obama  had to say, wanted to know the details of his death. So many American lives and lives of others have been lost at the direction of this man and his cause.

Perversion of the word of God when it is used to generate violence in His name is truly evil. I am relieved that he no longer walks this earth.However I must admit it bothers me- makes me feel a bit uncomfortable when I see others celebrating on the streets that he is dead. I know as American's we are free to gather on the streets and express ourselves, it's our right and we are free to do so as we wish; I cherish that right; please don't get me wrong. But what does the celebrating say about us as Christians?  Any thoughts?

*I have added this Vatican statement after reading it, it was not included in my original post, but I found it to be worthy of sharing.

Today the Vatican's spokesman, Federico Lombardi, S.J., released this statement on the death of Osama Bin Laden.

"Osama bin Laden, as we all know, bore the most serious responsibility for spreading divisions and hatred among populations, causing the deaths of innumerable people, and manipulating religions for this purpose. In the face of a man’s death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred."