for realsies

Pat and I watched the news last night as the President gave the official address stating that Osama Bin Laden is dead. As CNN and every other news network panned over the crowds of people waving American flags and singing the national anthem I was unsettled. I was trying to explain it to Pat and he summed it up well, saying that it feels weird to celebrate anyone's death-even this one. Folks have been posting to facebook and elsewhere-everywhere really about their feelings, hopes, and opinions on the topic. I've seen this quote posted a couple times now and it definitely resonates with me:

”I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that” — Martin Luther King, Jr. (ish)*

It seems so strange to me to be waving flags and singing songs about patriotism at this moment. I hope that those who have lost loved ones at Osama Bin Laden's hands feel a sense of closure or retribution if that is what they want or need. I understand celebrating a safer world-if that is in fact part of what his death means. The overt American patriotism just doesn't seem to fit here. It feels in poor taste.
I was a freshman in high school on 9/11. I walked into my second period and my teacher was crying. We watched the first tower burn, and saw the second plane hit live. My generation has been defined in a lot of ways by that day and this is definitely an important moment. But I don't know how or whether to celebrate it, nor do I know what to hope for as a consequence.

*Edit: Apparently the MLK quote making it's way around isn't perfectly accurate. You can read about it here. I like it as is, so I'm leaving it