Should we celebrate death of any kind?

I meant to write this at the beginning of the week but I think it's pertainent no matter when it's written. I was amongst friends on Monday morning when we heard of Bin Laden's death and it wasn't until that night that I saw the footage of those celebrating in New York and elsewhere.



I couldn't believe it. The cheering and singing and drinking to the death of one man. A man that was held up of the root of all evil, but could one man ever embody that? Isn't it groups of men and women who act, who continue with war and hate. The one man can't make this happen. It is only if he is believed, if others have this belief, that this happens.

So, as many others did, I put up a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. The first line was actually written by a girl in the states but I will include it in the quote here - I think the combination of the two adds a reflection of our own time to it:

"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"

As that's not a real quote, I'll give you one that is. My mom responded with this statement which really made me think. Mom's are good at doing that:

"I agree whole heartedly. When I watched footage of the celebrating overseas after the Twin Towers fell I was sickened and I was equally saddened by the footage I watched Sunday night. With Internet, Facebook and Twitter we live on an increasingly shrinking planet. One death will not bring back our loved ones, the hate and terrorism will not stop, there are hundreds waiting in line to replace him. We are such an intelligent people why are we so dumb about peace."

Is this celebration of death any different then what we saw in New York less than a week ago?