Weighing In: On the Death of a Symbol

On Monday night, thousands of people across the United States rejoiced after the death of the mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Here at Harvard, celebrations were much the same.  When walking home from a meeting, I received several messages from other politicos on campus, and got wind of a large gathering that was brewing in Harvard Yard.
However, this gathering was unlike any I had seen before.  Around the John Harvard statute in the middle of Harvard Yard were more than a hundred students, both Republicans and Democrats.  This moved me more than anything.  In an era of polarization and partisanship, the death of a symbol brought together more than a hundred students of different beliefs and backgrounds; more importantly, it brought together thousands of Americans across the country in a way we have not seen for years.
The death of a symbol is, after all, what Americans celebrated.  Contrary to the backlash of stories eluding that these rallies stemmed from some visceral hatred of a single man, the hundreds of Harvard students running, jumping, and chanting, were not celebrating the death of a man.  They came together to rejoice in the death of a symbol.
After two passenger jets crashed into two of the largest buildings in New York City on September 11, 2001, the name Osama Bin Ladin was heard around the world.  Over the next 10 years, he would come to be the symbol of the war in Afghanistan, the war against Al- Qaeida, and the war on terrorism as a whole.  He, the mastermind behind the attacks, represents everything the American people fight-repression, terrorism, and religious extremism.
When news of his death reached the public, we had every reason to celebrate.  After more than seven years of war, not only had a major military operation finally ended, but also a major symbol of the movement we fight today was defeated.
Sandra Korn ’14 writes, “In truth, our excessively patriotic celebrations undoubtedly confirm that Americans are unfeeling and inconsiderate. “
In contrast, I believe that our demonstrations have only confirmed our deeply considerate nature and our deep-seated love for justice.  We celebrated the justice brought to a man who organized an attack that killed thousands of American citizens.  We rejoice for those families who, while they may never find solace, may at least know that the symbol that took away their loved ones has been brought to justice.  However, I sympathize and concede to Sandra’s point in some respect.  When celebrations cease to be a positive expression of patriotism and turn into expressions of hatred and violence, they must be condemned.  While the feelings of terrorists need not be respected, we ought to hold ourselves to a high standard- after all, the standard a man holds himself to separates the just from the unjust.
However, Sandra Korn writes in her post, “Yes, Osama bin Laden had an important role in multiple horrifying events. Maybe he was indeed a “horrible person,” although I hesitate to label humans as “evil.”
I am not afraid to say that Osama Bin Ladin was evil, and I am not afraid to say that his movement was evil. It is important as Americans, and as citizens of the world, that we stand up for our values, that we are not afraid to confront evil for what it is, and that we do come together and rejoice when there is due cause.  Like President Obama said,  “We are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.
I am proud of America for coming together, I stand still in reverence with the people of New York, and I hope that we have reason to rejoice again in the near future.  And if that means dancing the Mexican Hat Dance, then so be it.
Photo credit:  http://globalhiphopbattles.com/tag/americans-celebrate-osama-bin-laden-being-murdered/