The death of an international terrorist, Muslim extremist, and mastermind of the attack on this nation which took place on September 11th, 2001, and which plunged this country into what would become a two-front war in the Near East certainly hasn't escaped local notice in East Tennessee. Osama bin Laden was shot in the head by an unnamed member of the U.S. Navy SEALS, and Knoxville Republican State Senator Stacey Campfield caused no small controversy on Facebook by posting a picture of Osama bin Laden's head in the arm of the Statue of Liberty on his well-known blog. This writer celebrated famously on Facebook by expressing random thoughts when he heard the news, posting the traditional Catholic prayer Te Deum, and posting an organ rendition of a favorite Christian hymn of praise.

The Mrs., it should be noted, did not think well of our celebratory attitude toward the demise of the world's leading radical Muhammedian. She quoted Proverbs 24:17:18:
 

When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice: Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

I don't know that celebrating a major victory in war-and it is a war we are engaged in-is a bad thing. The death of Osama bin Laden is by far the most significant event-and the result of the firefight that killed bin Laden is the clearest victory yet-in the war that began on September 11th, 2001. However, this writer is compelled to admit that Mrs. O does have a point (and yes, she is as pleased as any of the rest of us that Osama is out of the picture). If we bask not in the military and strategic victory we have achieved through Osama bin Laden's death (and the positive outcomes it has generated and will generate), and instead gloat on bin Laden's death for its own sake, then we are no better than the terrorists that we seek to defeat. In our commemorations of the momentous event of May 1st, perhaps we should remember that.