I think America is experiencing a moral tug-of-war...

We are pulled to opposite extremes over the assassination of Usama Bin Laden. Michael Moore thinks we have lost a piece of our "soul". I would question how much we had left to lose?

Yes, it would have been more acceptable to our conscience and to our sense of humanity if he had been captured and brought back to America for trial. However, we do not have the courage or the will to put terrorists like KSM or Usama on trial in America, out of fear of being targeted by these same terrorists. In other words, we have become cowards.

It will take time to resolve this moral dilemma. We still put criminals to death in this country for heinous crimes? Did Bin Laden commit a heinous crime. Let's just say he got the death penalty for his crimes if that makes us feel better?

Who decides who can take the life of another person, criminal or not? It is society. If we want to change that, we must change society. At the present time, we are in the midst of a moral tug-of-war. It will take some time for us to navigate these murky waters.

I really don't.

However, we do not have the courage or the will to put terrorists like KSM or Obama on trial in America, out of fear of being targeted by these same terrorists. In other words, we have become cowards.

I for one don't see the President being on trial in the foreseable future.

I have read enough of your posts to know it's a mistake.

Even Bill Maher did it tonight also. I guess I will start spelling his name with a "U" to prevent such unfortunate spelling in the future?

You are and have always been right 99.9% of the time.

:pals:

and understanding.

Thank you.

are so close in pronunciation for speaking comfort levels and thus are misplaced. It's happened a few times with news anchors. I never watch Faux News and hate to even speculate how 'accidentally' those names are reversed,but that's a whole other issue.

may mistakingly call him "Obama" from time to time. It is a strange eclipse of our language.

I'm glad the bastard is dead.

Would you hire him as your body guard?

I might disagree from time to time but I think this is an issue that will take a little time to resolve in our consciences. Just my opinion.

I wonder if he would be able to shoot a person who was about to kill him or me. I think I would rather hold the gun.

There is no moral tug of war for me. And his killing was not an assassination, your depiction it as one betrayed your state of mind.

Carrying out of the death penalty?

Nothing is familiar to the way I learned things growing up in life, educationally, and the many civil struggles. We had plenty bad and warts, but seemed through processes to be going in the right direction. We've stopped that advancement though. We are no longer enlightened in any thing very much. We are definitely a country that has lost something. And Americans are deluded and unaware of even themselves. I think I haven't assimilated to the new very well. My reeducation didn't take.

However, I don't think we lost it with the murder (assassination, death penalty) of Usama Bin Laden. We lost it with the invasion of Iraq. We lost it with Abu Graib. We lost it with "waterboarding". We lost it with the Patriot Act. We lost it in many ways. This is only a continuation. We must decide individually where we want to go. We have no necessity or obligation to follow or assimilate with those whom we so disagree.

by greedy soulless individuals that jumped on a situation to exploit. It's irrational to see bin Laden alive and facing trial as more threatening say to us than say Nazi Germany was to the point of giving up who we were. We've allowed it penetrate way too deeply to a point where in Presidential debates, Republicans talked about "palling around with terrorists" and millions could take that serious. This place is just sick.

and very sad.

A trial is more effective in fighting terrorism. Trials are great for picking apart an ideology. Killing people elevates them to the status of martyr.

Bin Laden to the status of god in the eyes of extremist. This is one poster that is blissfully happy that Bin Laden was killed before he could kill one more american. Bin Laden's ass is rotting among deep sea life, I say good for him.

during that raid. But you already know that.

I give a fraction of one shit about how his death came about.

That's what one would think reading your response. :shrug:

the game-winning touchdown.

I'm tired of that shit.

want to whenever and wherever we want to. USA! USA! USA! {cue Lee Greenwood music}

Aren't you proud to be a 'Murkan this week? Real 'Murkans don't have no moral tug-of-wars.

This isn't "whomever", "whenever", and "wherever".

Don't be facile.

The death of Bin Laden isn't so much about his passing, but it's the passage of a nation once again living without fear. I see all around me people who normally accept injustices and corruption finally waking up as corporations and politicians have finally gone too far. We're in for some amazing and transforming times.

Welcome to DU.

I hope you are right.

Welcome to DU!

Then I'd say 15% are far right republican crazies who are pissed he's dead on Obama's watch, which makes it harder for them to either
a) get rid of taxes entirely
and/or
b) outlaw abortion, birth control, and all non-procreative fucking...

Then maybe- Maybe- 5% is the portion of the "left" that is actively involved in the sort of goofy hand-wringing over this that you're talking about. Most people aren't feeling any dilemma, at all, other than "what the fuck took THAT so long?"

I couldn't be happier he is dead. No moral quandary about it whatsoever.

My big problem with this whole thing is the media dissection of it. The guy was an admitted terrorist hell bent on killing innocents. I don't care how he is dead only glad that he is.

Bush and Cheney killed 300 times that many people in Iraq alone. And they're out on television and on book tours.

Yeah, we're having a moral dilemma.

Don't confuse the two.

Perhaps it would have been more accurate to "some" Americans are in a moral tug-og-war?

Although Fidel Castro was only a recipient of US terror, even a false report of his death was enough to bring out MiamiCubano wingnuts into the posh bars to celebrate.