BIN LADEN
Revenge is not the path to higher moral ground
The celebratory atmosphere and response in the U.S. and other parts of the world to Osama bin Laden’s death deeply saddens me, and leaves me with questions. What in us seeks revenge as a solution to atrocities? The military/industrial complex (of which Eisenhower warned us) seduces the U.S. to use the very tactics so abhorrent in the events of Sept. 11. Will we ever learn that revenge shrinks the human heart, and breeds greater revenge, not justice?
I await our evolution of consciousness, where compassion is our first response and creative alternatives emerge from the human spirit to resolve our conflicts. Our reliance on revenge will not lead us out of the desert.
Do we long for peace, and are we willing to do the hard work and make the sacrifices necessary to make peace possible? The homilist at the wedding of William and Kate quoted St. Catherine of Siena to remind us: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” Dare we?
Elizabeth Sully, Atlanta
POLITICS
Keeping bin Laden photos private correct
President Obama has shown that he deserves much public acclaim. Rather than display gruesome photos of a dead bin Laden and inflame potential bin Laden supporters, the president resisted public pressure, and kept the pictures private.
The president chose to speak privately to the families of those killed on Sept. 11.
I am very impressed with President Obama’s performance. He acted like a true statesman.
Joni Pelta, Atlanta
BIN LADEN
Shaky early details of killing not a surprise
Regarding the details of Osama bin Laden’s death: every reporter who’s been around even a week or two knows full well that first accounts of anything are always wrong in some details.
After 30 years in law enforcement, I’ve yet to read a first report on a crime scene ( even one written by the police) that is entirely accurate.
Interview 10 witnesses to a bank robbery, and you get 10 different stories.
Jim Miller, Hoschton
IMMIGRATION
‘Rule of law’ should apply to all government action
Imagine my utter amazement when regarding the headline for Jim Wooten’s piece “The rule of law is not negotiable” (Opinion, May 6).
I couldn’t fathom that he would be discussing the “slippery slope” that international law and rules of engagement have become. Europeans consider terrorism a police action (and handle it thusly).
Because we have the military might, we have chosen war as a strategy, and behave on a larger scale.
When we assassinate our enemies’ leaders because we can, we have to reconsider our country’s respect for the “rule of law,” and not only in regard to immigration.
Sally McDonald, Chamblee
