So millions of Americans and citizens of the world recieved the very random, sudden and shocking news last night: Osama Bin Laden and a number of his key associates and family members were killed in a targeted US-Led attack. Personally it was such a throw from left field I didn't believe the news. Coming fresh from study and paper writing mode it was definitely a complete 180-degree change in where my perspective was and I'm sure others can concur. I have mixed feelings about the whole she-bang though.
On one hand I can understand the relief that many may feel about the news of his demise. However I have slight reservation to celebrate the death of any human being, even one associated with such horrendous acts like 9/11. I also do not believe this will be an entire gamechanger to the military operations still going on in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Libya; only a possible addition of fuel for a large bonfire to come. In the end I have a more vast outlook on how all of these displays of celebration are recieved globally and how we would react if the shoe were on the other foot so to speak. We have so far to go in this country not only in our foreign policy which imparts a monolithic, imperialist viewpoint that is very archaic and insensitive along social and ethical lines; along with the heap of domestic problems, i.e. our refusal to effectively and openly deal with our racial wounds (Birth Certificate fiasco anyone?), doesn't leave me shouting for joy. Hooray?...I think not.
(And before you ask, no that isn't a typo in the title.) Now as a person under the age of 30 it is expected of me to know relatively close to, if not completely, nothing on the subject of politics, social issues, or anything not attached to a colorful bumper sticker. Or of course the weekly line-up on MTV. However as ultimately over-reaching, and in my case slightly offensive, as these assumptions may be unfortunately I am apart of the over-microwaved generation. I clearly attest to my peers lack of attention span to way too many hours spent on Facebook instead of actually speaking to another person's face or face down in a real book.
This is unfortunate however it is only the generalization of who we are. I, among millions of other young adults, and teens for that matter, are attuned to more than the new items added to McDonald's dollar menu. From a personal stand point I stay connected and abreast of all things politically and socially inclined. Not only domestic issues but abroad as well. I am firm believer that you won't be young forever and that the ignorance you carry today will surely bite you later if you aren't careful.
With this in mind I have been paying close attention to the recent state of affairs in the form of a daily soap opera: American news media. While it is a whole different discussion entirely of the state of the public affairs and how our government currently functions more of political circus theatre rather than an agent to move forward the agendas of the American people; it is of great relevance to pay attention to certain facets of the story. One of the most recent additions to the cast is Donald Trump and his wonderful talking hairpiece.
He has rambled on and on about President Obama's lack of effort in proving he was indeed an American citizen (which thankfully has finally been resolved), but his style of governing, his policies, and nearly anything totally irrelevant and obsurd he can find. I'm sure he's possibly even critiqued his choice of hotel while travelling. Jokes aside, Donald's ranting and raving is an alarming trend that many people seem to like to pay attention to, if not worse even agree with. I definitely do not agree with all of the President's decisions and policies within the first half of his term. However to persist on things as asinine as a wild goose chase for this man's birth certificate is another.
I believe it is imperative that we as active citizen's in our democracy learn how to have a civil discourse of the differences in our ideals without the degrading of others in the process. It is a very dangerous and tight road Trump and his counterparts have been treading here recently and none of it proves well to the future of this nation. Sowing seeds of lies and dissention does nothing to add to our lives but more chaos and less systematic and sustainable positive change in our economy, media, or the political process as a whole.
