thoughts after Bin Laden's assassination

I'm frustrated with America’s reaction.   It's one thing to rejoice in the safety of our country and troops (which, arguably, actually may not be much greater now that Osama Bin Laden is dead), but quite another thing to celebrate death.  It's inexcusable for Americans to parade around howling and hooting about another human's death.  We should handle the situation with maturity and grace, recognizing the political move as one that President Obama saw as necessary—but we should not gloat over the fact that this was done.  We should be able to look at the situation with humanity in our hearts and with love of country rather than hatred toward a man incredibly mislead and filled with hate himself. As soon as we start to hate, we become like him in a very real sense.

Furthermore, from a political standpoint, the general public’s reaction is making a terrible political reputation for the United States.  I doubt our allies—and also those against us, who already think we’re spoiled, selfish, and ethnocentric—will appreciate seeing pics and video footage showcasing certain reactions and behavior.  I’m not saying all the people celebrating outside the Whitehouse were acting inappropriately;  I’m just saying in general and in the future, we need to be careful in the way we express our feelings about America, and we need to make sure to show virtues of humanity and use of reason rather than vices of hate and passion.  

We might also—whether Christian or Hindu or Buddhist or Muslim or agnostic—do well to remember some wise words: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).