I know this is a Georgia sports blog, and I promise I'll get to the post-spring defensive depth chart. But hey, it's my blog, so forgive me a diversion.
As some of you may know, I'm a native of our nation's capital, and I was living there on Sept. 11, 2001. I was lucky enough not to know anybody who was killed, but in the months after I often drove by the Pentagon, where a large shroud covered up the area that had been destroyed by a crashed plane. We lived in perpetual fear of the next attack. My step-brother joined the Army, something I considered myself, before continuing my rather unimportant sportswriting career.
But 9-11 affected us all. I understood that when I moved the next year to southwest Georgia, and was there on the one-year anniversary. It truly was an American event, and something that has shaped us for the past 10 years.
That's why the news of Sunday night was so ... well what's the right word?
Sweet? Vindicating? Exhilarating? ... I don't know.
The visuals are better: Some may find the celebrating at Ground Zero, outside the White House and other places to be a bit tacky. But I understand it. I was 25 on 9/11, but the college kids - those on the Georgia football team, for instance - have hardly known what it was like pre-9/11. They've lived about half their life in the world it created.
As someone who lived half my childhood overseas - my father was a diplomat in Spain and Latin America - at first I was sensitive to how the news, and the celebrations here, would play overseas. But the more I think about it, I don't care. This is our moment.
I'm glad we got him. I'm glad he's finally gone. I'm glad it was us who did it.
The news was a long-time coming. Probably too long. But it still came. And we're entitled to feel happy for a sense of justice.
Thank you to everyone in the military, everyone in the CIA, the White House. The current and former President. And the people in the Pentagon, which has long since been restored. Good job, everybody.
OK ... I'll get cracking on that depth chart now.
Monday, May 2, 2011
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31 comments:
Entirely appropriate and well stated.
It seems odd when the non-hard news guys and gals go on about their reporting (sports reporting, entertainment, whatever) and don't acknowledge a huge story like this one. Glad you took a break from UGA sports. Well done.
Historic day. Entirely appropriate.
I don't feel bad for the spontaneous celebrations whatsoever. It's nothing short of justice being served to the face of evil.
Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter. This is an American accomplishment.
As for Osama himself: Rest In Piss
“I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary notices I have read with pleasure.” --Clarence Darrow
Does anyone else get a wierd vibe from the "burried at sea" part? I know nothing about how this type of thing is handled. Just curious.
Great article, Seth.
Bravo. Well said.
I felt a perverse sense of personal satisfaction in hearing that this scumbag was put down by our guys. A long time coming.
GATA Seals!
Nice comments Seth.
What a great day!
Thank you for the words Seth.
I wish i could buy the Seal that tagged him in the head a beer.
Given the celebrations in certain Middle Eastern cities that we were forced to endure in the aftermath of 9/11, I don't feel bad whatsoever for any spontaneous celebrations Americans might engage in.
Personally, I can only hope that his last moments were filled with fear, despair, and the knowledge that he had failed.
Well said.
However, just because these "football players" (or whoever) were young then, or may not remember what it was like before 9/11, doesn't mean their lives weren't affected by this tragedy, too. They deserve to celebrate just like those of us who are older.
The country as a whole is celebrating today.
Go Dawgs!
For what it's worth Seth - you just moved way up on my most respected blogers list.
Thanks, Seth, for telling us how you feel. My son has been to Iraq 3 times, Afghanistan 1 time and recently he went to London to be staged for somewhere else(I'm guessing somewhere south of there on another continent). we all are happy that this devil is no longer operating. We also recognize there will be others. We must never forget those who gave there lives in New York and also all those of our military that continue to keep us fee. God Bless
Aladawg
No photo of the body? Buried at sea? Some have said that he has been dead for years and a coverup was taking place to prop up the war against terror. Bhutto belived it before being killed. Question government, they haven't earned anyones trust.
Support the troops! The leadership (Rep or Dem, doesn't matter) is the issue!
Just what we need another crackpot conspiracy theorist...ya im looking at you Anon 1:04pm. Up here at UMass we were having quite the celebration. God Bless America.
MassDawg, at least read the Tillman Story and tell me that there is no possible way I could be correct.
Propaganda....Vietnam, WMD's, Tillman, etc. The Gov will grab at any possible opportunity to prolong a war or get into a new one. This should be obvious to everyone.
Huge annual deficits. Massive debt. Two wars fought on borrowed money, approaching 10 years with no end in sight. TSA. Bailouts. The Fed. The economy.
Bin Laden won.
Anon, don't worry bro. It will all be over in 2012 so enjoy it while you can.
Celebrating and justifying it by saying, "it's what they did" seems incredibly pathetic and disgusting. I don't believe two wrongs make a right. I also believe that revenge is for idiots and children. We should at least try to act mature and educated I think.
Random thoughts:
Any victory he may have had on earth is temporary compared to the torment he's facing now.
As far as giving him a proper, respectful Muslim burial: Did any of his victims (American or Muslim) get their proper burials?
I couldn't have said it better myself.
once again we see how incredible our military is. i'm just glad obama didnt disassemble all the organization of intelligence and military operations from the previous administration that so many on the left wanted him to. for that he deserves credit.
Not sure about the burial at sea either. I thought dropping him off the side of a dirt road in south Georgia was aa good idea --- buzzards have to eat too!!!!
40 virgins your idea of torment?
Thanks, Seth. Well said.
He sleeps with the fish. I think it is damn appropriate, maybe a little too Tony Soprano but appropriate. I know some retired Navy Seals they will be drinking beer from his skull if it was up to them.
i keep hearing all these people say they "commend" obama for pulling the trigger on UBL....lets see what were his choices....do nothing? then let the press find out about it....bomb the hell out of the place and kill the "west point" of pakistan that was located next door, or send in seal team six...really looks like there was no choice here besides the seal team 6...you bomb the facility and pakistan gives nukes to iran and north korea...you pay to train these guys to complete a mission and they did with valant effort and lethal precision. Any president in the same situation would do the same thing... at least i hope they would... the real story here is that the system put in place after 9-11 worked(s). it has worked since then...lets hope it continues to work in the future...1 in the chest...1 in the head... its easy to sit in a room 7,000 miles away and give a command...lets see what happens with the domestic issues facing the country like rising commodity prices, inflated gas prices, the weak dollar, high unemployment and a terrible housing market.
john b...30080
@anon 12:54 AM Well said. Don't want to politicize the moment, but it is hard not to when a bunch of knuckleheads want to come out and somehow claim that this happened because O is president. This is the culmination of 5 years of hard intelligence work. Kudos to the SEALs.
Those were exactly his choices, either bomb the place and never really know if you got bin laden. Or, do nothing because you know the stakes are incredibly high and you know that you are putting American lives at risk by sending in the Seals. He chose to send in a team of Seals knowing this was a calculated risk. It's time to give credit where credit is due, and the President of the United States made the right choice. I know that's hard for you to understand, so instead of commenting just go back to your trailer and leave the rest of us alone.
Anon @ 4:49 - how about you think before you speak?
How is a celebration a 'wrong'?
How is eliminating a dangerous man who still posed an active threat to our way of life 'revenge'?
The only thing 'childish' is your naive outlook on the world.
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