That's the feeling I have right now, upon watching the constant news coverage of the Osama bin Laden killing. Even though I am glad that he was finally brought to justice, and that it was under President Obama's administration, I just feel exhausted.
It's been a long ten years to get Osama bin Laden, and in that decade, which started when I was in my first year of college, thousands of lives have been lost at great taxpayer cost in two wars we've bogged ourselves down, and to now to the moment of Osama bin Laden's death....all I see is the great human cost that it took to get this madman.
3,000 people lost on 9/11. The second airplane full of passengers that my mom saw crash into the World Trade Center from her office a few blocks north. The faces of American soldiers killed in action in the newspaper. The reports of Afghanistan citizens killed in a mistaken raid, strike, or fly-over. The Iraqis killed. Homes destroyed. Another madman killed a few years ago, his sons killed as well.
Death. Death. Death, and disaster in the past ten years. And billions of dollars made in profit from oil, contracting out our defense to ex-military officers, the maintenance of the war machine, and cocktail parties in the Beltway planning which course of action to take next in maintaining that war machine.
When will it stop?
When will the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan end?
Will Osama bin Laden's death really kill off Qaeda and the war on terrorism as we know it? Or does it continue anew in another madman?
Will we ever find a moment of peace in which our country isn't stuck in two wars at great cost in terms of human lives and taxpayer dollars?
That's what is on my mind. I thank and give the President his rightful due in finding Osama bin Laden and bringing him to justice. However, these questions need to be answered. The death of this madman does not absolve our government from answering our questions, and its accountability in perpetuating the present wars.
I am exhausted. I know thousands of Americans are exhausted as well. I'm not the only one here to have this feeling. There is no exuberant celebration, only a sense of momentary relief, and dread at the unknown answers to our questions.
I hope we will have the answers we seek soon someday to our questions.