NY Times Says It's 'Ugly' to Celebrate bin Laden's Death
Michael Moore and others on the far left have taken to moral preening over the killing of Osama bin Laden, finding it unseemly to celebrate the death of a man that killed 3,000 American citizens. (Of course, people would have cheered if Osama had been merely captured and not killed.) Friday's New York Times story by Benedict Carey validated that left-wing trend under the headline "Celebrating a Death: Ugly, Maybe, but Only Human."
Some Americans celebrated the killing of Osama bin Laden loudly, with chanting and frat-party revelry in the streets. Others were appalled -- not by the killing, but by the celebrations.
“It was appropriate to go after Bin Laden, just to try to cut the head off that serpent, but I don’t think it’s decent to celebrate a killing like that,” said George Horwitz, a retired meat cutter and Army veteran in Bynum, N.C.
Others were much more critical. “The worst kind of jingoistic hubris,” a University of Virginia student wrote in the college newspaper, The Cavalier Daily. In blogs and online forums, some people asked: Doesn’t taking revenge and glorying in it make us look just like the terrorists?
Carey also found America's political temperature dangerously high in a March 28, 2010 story included a photo caption suggested the 1960s domestic terrorists of the Weather Underground and the Tea Party movement were just "Varying Degrees of Rage.'
Carey partially refuted the far-left claims, but the loaded word "revenge" kept popping up in his story. (What's wrong with "justice"?)
The answer is no, social scientists say: it makes us look like human beings. In an array of research, both inside laboratories and out in the world, psychologists have shown that the appetite for revenge is a sensitive measure of how a society perceives both the seriousness of a crime and any larger threat that its perpetrator may pose.
Revenge is most satisfying when there are strong reasons for exacting it, both practical and emotional.
One metaphor fed into the left-wing assumption that Americans were being mindlessly drawn into the streets to cheer a kind of sporting event.
The sight of Bin Laden’s face on television or a smartphone news feed might have been enough to move people from the sidelines into the streets, to cheer for the home team.
....
Thus the natural urge for revenge -- satisfied so suddenly, releasing a decade of background anxiety, stoked by peers -- feeds on itself. Delight turns to chanting turns to climbing on lamp posts.
- Clay Waters's blog
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Comments
NY Times Says It's 'Ugly' to
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 12:47pm.
NY Times Says It's 'Ugly' to Celebrate bin Laden's Death
Scratch, scratch, scribble, scribble.
NY Times Says It's 'Ugly' to be Pro-American in a Time of War
There, all fixed.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
First time ever--agree with Moore-
Submitted by StarAZ on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 12:56pm.
As I have already said on this site, this is ugly, gross stuff and maybe capering around like a gleeful goblin like Geraldo did is not quite the correct take on it. I guess this makes me un-American or something. I disagree, but whatever. I would say, mark the death, recognize it, even say you're relieved--but celebrate?
I wouldn't call you "un-American".
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 2:19pm.
There are those of us who are willing and enjoy hunting our food and there are those who are willing to eat but not kill. That's ok. I accept that. I, personally, did not celebrate. To me it was like collecting a debt that had been owed for 10 years, i.e. "it's about time".
Why insult me?
Submitted by StarAZ on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 2:53pm.
There are those of us who are willing and enjoy hunting our food and there are those who are willing to eat but not kill
You did not "celebrate" either, but you had to insult me, or try to? I have had a loaded gun to my head for 8 hrs--have you? This isn't a video game. That is all I am saying. It's ugly stuff.
I had no intention...
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 4:51pm.
of insulting you and did not "try to". Furthermore, I fail to see the inferred slur.
I stated a simple (to me) scenario with which I am personally familiar; that some people think "ugly" what others may chose to "celebrate". When I wrote that, I had a particular experience in mind. I celebrate days of difficult tracking in intense heat and humidity, through camel thorn and cats claw and the harvesting of a foe that can kill me as surely as I did him. I realize that some people are not hunters. That was my point.
Admittedly, there are still others who would pop up and say, "How sick. Celebrating killing a poor defenseless animal". I didn't accuse you of being one of those. Actually, I didn't accuse you of anything.
No, I've never had a gun to my head for 8 hours. But, let me assure you. As a combat veteran of Viet Nam, I know this wasn't a video game. I didn't celebrate then either. But, I know those who did - the ones who lived.
Thank you for your service
Submitted by StarAZ on Sat, 05/07/2011 - 11:54am.
My ex was 82nd Airborne Special Forces in Vietnam. I am in awe of what the military does and grateful. But you tried to slap me with some lightweight, stupid aversion to violence or meat eating (didn't get that one). It was a driveby and one reason I find these sites wearisome. My whole family was hunters--I have shot every gun going at the range, including a submachine gun. I also have survived a home invasion before than term was coined. You have no idea what people on these sites are about--but you slapped out at me anyway. I thought it was cheesy. But on we go.
Speaking of cheesy
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 05/07/2011 - 12:06pm.
If you dont want to celebrate Osama's death dont. But ridiculing those who do, serves what point exactly? Fact is, other folks feel different about a lot of the things you do and say.
This is what I said-- As I
Submitted by StarAZ on Sat, 05/07/2011 - 2:58pm.
This is what I said--
As I have already said on this site, this is ugly, gross stuff and maybe capering around like a gleeful goblin like Geraldo did is not quite the correct take on it. I guess this makes me un-American or something. I disagree, but whatever. I would say, mark the death, recognize it, even say you're relieved--but celebrate?
Oh--you mean Geraldo? Yes--his behavior was ridiculous and disturbing. And I write well and can express that. If this is how you acted, too--then maybe you did think I ridiculed you. Sorry.
Sorry about multiple posts
Submitted by StarAZ on Sun, 05/08/2011 - 12:09pm.
This site--or my computer--or something stalled out...I guess it was taking my deathless anyway.
This is what I said-- As I
Submitted by StarAZ on Sat, 05/07/2011 - 3:00pm.
This is what I said--
As I have already said on this site, this is ugly, gross stuff and maybe capering around like a gleeful goblin like Geraldo did is not quite the correct take on it. I guess this makes me un-American or something. I disagree, but whatever. I would say, mark the death, recognize it, even say you're relieved--but celebrate?
Oh--you mean Geraldo? Yes--his behavior was ridiculous and disturbing. And I write well and can express that. If this is how you acted, too--then maybe you did think I ridiculed you. Sorry.
This is what I said-- As I
Submitted by StarAZ on Sat, 05/07/2011 - 3:01pm.
This is what I said--
As I have already said on this site, this is ugly, gross stuff and maybe capering around like a gleeful goblin like Geraldo did is not quite the correct take on it. I guess this makes me un-American or something. I disagree, but whatever. I would say, mark the death, recognize it, even say you're relieved--but celebrate?
Oh--you mean Geraldo? Yes--his behavior was ridiculous and disturbing. And I write well and can express that. If this is how you acted, too--then maybe you did think I ridiculed you. Sorry.
Ok,ok
Submitted by Boudin on Sun, 05/08/2011 - 4:03pm.
I got it. : ]
AZ, He made no attempt to
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 9:07pm.
AZ,
He made no attempt to insult you, I believe your post was a veiled attempt at cheap ridicule.
Nice point
Submitted by Djinn1975 on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 1:02pm.
in the article. How many time did we hear 'justice' Sunday and Monday? How many time will we hear revenge henceforth? There are many other words to use, retribution, comeuppance, consequence, besides justice, revenge is the least fitting.
How hypocritical of the NYT
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 1:54pm.
They have worked as hard, if not harder, as all the rest of the liberal/progressive left to remove any religious/moral underpinnings of American culture.
The Chief meme for them being the moral relativism of "Christianity = Judaism = Islam = Hinduism = Wicca = Druidism =Atheism = etc." Over the years and decades of them pushing this mantra, they are now upset that some in the culture (maybe the majority?) have little or no moral compass?
What moral standard is the NYT using to say what is the correct behavior? Their own "religion expert" couldn't even state that bin Laden was evil.
They never chastised the people of the West Bank and Gaza when they were celebrating the murders of the Fogel family by "palestinians" a few weeks ago.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
I love it!
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 2:07pm.
"Moral preening" by those who would subjugate me to their vision of how I should live my life and have the impudence, the audacity, the chutzpah to tell me I'm better for it.
Still?
Submitted by Phryj1 on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 2:31pm.
I'm getting more and more confused by the MSM narrative on this.
"We shouldn't be celebrating because that makes us as bad people."
AND...
"We should be grateful to and proud of Obama for getting Bin Laden."
Am I the only one who sees a contradiction here?
The only good news is that the left isn't presenting a unified front on this. They're falling all over themselves trying to spin it into a big win for Obama, but they're worried it will erode support from the pseudo-intellectual, elitist, anti-military, "blame America first" leftists that form the core of the Progressive base. They don't know what to do with this.
If nothing else, it IS fun to watch.
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
death of the times
Submitted by thewook on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 3:10pm.
Are we allowed to celebrate the death of the Times whenever it happens?
Death of The New York Slimes
Submitted by cats1cowboy on Sun, 05/08/2011 - 3:40pm.
ABSOLUTELY!
Do they have a problem with
Submitted by TerryWest on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 3:37pm.
Do they have a problem with the Presdient on a celebration tour?
Or do they find that diffrent in some way.
The President could have quitely met with and thanked those involved and went on with his job much as the Navy Seals and others involved have done, but instead it has been a much covered step by step full on media event.
Out of one side of their mouths they preach, from the other is much preening, spiking and political hopes being celebrated.
Perhaps it's that these hipocrites believe that if they act as moral police and talk about the publics behavior no one will notice their own celebration's as much .
Dear NYT...
Submitted by Too Old To Be Cool on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 3:58pm.
US citizens danced in the streets to celebrate the killing of one terrorist mastermind who was responsible for planning at least seven terrorist operations against US citizens and soldiers.
Muslim extremists danced in the streets to celebrate the killing of three thousand INNOCENT people.
See the difference?
Unfortunately, they don't.
Submitted by NC Cop on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 4:03pm.
Unfortunately, they don't.
The Times Can Celebrate the Death of the Unborn
Submitted by libBuster on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 4:39pm.
According to the Times celebrating the death of bin-Laden is "ugly". Yet by their shambolic logic there is nobility in late term abortions and Planned Parenthood.
I lived in NYC on 9/11 and I remember
Submitted by Peter-in-NYC on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 5:19pm.
I remember seeing this on the news:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WptpG_yVUI&feature=related
I remember watching Arab Muslims celebrating! So now it is MY turn to cheer!
When
Submitted by Bob K on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 6:27pm.
the NYT's announces it is flat broke and ceasing publication there will also be partying going on.
I think we all need to just
Submitted by jessieH on Sat, 05/07/2011 - 9:36pm.
I think we all need to just watch the video of 9/11 and remember why we killed him in the first place. Ugly is ignoring the facts, like the N.Y. Times does, time after time.