“Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS.” - Mahatma Ghandi
Maeve is far too little to understand what has been going on in the world for the last three days. She's happily occupied with her birthday presents, still playing with her balloon, completely untroubled by the celebrations of the death of a murderer. But if she was big enough to ask me questions, I think this is what I would say:
Honey, everyone is happy because a man who has been in charge of killing and hurting lots of people is gone now. He can't hurt anybody anymore, and that's why everyone is so happy. They feel a little safer, and they believe that the bad guy got what was coming to him.
But sweetheart, life isn't like a movie, and although there are people in the world that do very bad things, everyone is still a person - everyone had a family, everyone has been in love with someone. This guy had wives and kids and dreams. But he wasn't thinking about his family when he killed all those people, and now they will miss him a lot.
We can be a happy he's gone and can't hurt anyone anymore, and still a little sad that he never had a chance to really think about what he did, and to feel sorry.
Yeah, like she's hold still long enough for an explanation like that! I guess I can just thank my lucky stars I don't have to give that particular speech right now. As a good friend of mine always says, we'll blow up that bridge when we come to it.
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| Can I bring my balloon into the bath? |
Very well said; I talked to my husband this morning about all of this and told him that all I felt was a sense of closure and he was a bit surprised; I guess he thought I would be in a more celebratory mood, but I'm just not. I think there's a lot of people out there that would benefit from your explanation of things. :D
ReplyDeleteSometimes justice is brutal and ugly and still justice. It is what it is, but I can't find it in me to celebrate it.
ReplyDeletevery well said - i completely agree. a death is a death - whether it's a good guy or a bad guy - he had a family, too and though I am happy he will be unable to hurt anyone ever aain - his passing won't bring back those lost on 9/11
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