In light of recent events.....discuss

[supergreenuk]

How do Martin Luther Kings words fit in todays society.

"Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that" - Martin Luther King

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." - Martin Luther King

I agree with that. Killing Osama solves nothing - will probably make the situation worse.

A friend of mine put this as her fb status.

I think it will cause more trouble now but I don't know if long term the benefits will be better really. I'm not sure just how involved he was in plotting attacks etc since he went into hiding. I should imagine he's got a strong network of leaders in place who are still here to carry on his work and now have a renewed vigour with regards to revenge.

I agree.

And although what he did-or talked others into, was truely horrific, gloating & celebrating his death doesn´t seem quite right either.

Whilst it may make us feel uncomfortable and whilst the death of one man may not materially change things, I do not begrudge those Americans that chose to celebrate one jot. 9/11 was the most appalling event, humiliating and terrifying at the same time. Bin Laden was a key figure in that event, hugely symbolic and his death was bound to generate huge emotion. Had he been alive today, my bet is that even the great MLK would have chinked a glass at the news. Everyone's been very careful to say that this isn't the end of the struggle against islamic extremism, and of course it isn't. But I think this is the best chance for the USA to finally put that dreadful day behind them and move forward.

So what was the alternative? Capture him and bring him to trial? where exactly? and who would oversee it and who would sit on the jury and ultimately wouldn't the end have been the same? He wasn't innocent until proven guilty - he had publically gloated over the deaths of thousands of innocent people which he had orchestrated.

And bringing him to trial would merely have given him a voice - would we really want that? Bin laden up on a public platform? And what of the security risks in keeping him held captive for several years - the abductions and terrorist attacks in the name of his release.

On five live phone in this morning there were plenty of muslims calling in to say they were glad he was dead. And that he had destroyed the image of islam and turned them into hate figures. to be suspected of wrong-doing.

It's a bit too bleeding heart to be going on about the wrongs of this imho. I can't quite get the motivation of someone wanting to go out and celebrate, but equally I think that condemning this turns him into a marter and equally I can't see how anyone would want to be party to that.

I'm pleased they got him at last. But I hope the very grisly photos of his corpse WON'T be published. If they are, that will only serve to assist the 'cause' of him and his ilk.

Hmm, don't want to gloat, certainly, but agree with dotnet, pleased they got him. God knows it cost enough - in lives and hard currency. Think it might behoove us to brace ourselves and be vigilant as the repercussions could be grisly. He's done too much damage to Islam for anybody other than extremists / deluded loonies to really condemn this. Pity the movement doesn't die with him, frankly.

I for one am glad the americans finally got him and he did get what he deserved, on the other hand the British would have captured and imprisoned all the terrorists then released them giving them millions of pounds if they promised to be good followed by electing them as MPs as they did do with all the ira terrorists they ever caught. It is a shame though that the anti-terrorist americans saw themselves fit to fund the ira for almost 40 years through organisations such as noraid. Double standards?

The second part of the OP is not actually a quote from MLK, a mix-up on Facebook caused it to be misattributed to him and then it went viral.

Jessica Dovey's fifteen minutes of fame

Amazing how it can spread like that, Cloudydays.

On OBL however, imo the Americans missed a chance to show the world how in a democracy everyone deserves a fair trial. They can't hold themselves up as being better than anyone else if they just rush in and execute people they consider to be enemies of the state. And I hate the gloating that's going on.

Cloudy - that's fascinating. And a lesson for us all on the perils of misquoting. I do love that Jessica Dovey's status now reads:

"has apparently gone back in time and put her words into one of MLK's sermons. I'm somewhere between nervous and embarrassed and honored... I really hope I haven't said anything he wouldn't agree with.. Only what I feel in my heart."

I am very very glad they executed him. He died unarmed as did the 1000's that were murdered in cold blood in his name.

I am not 'glad' he is dead. I just can't seem to rejoice in death, who ever it is who is claimed.

I can see that it brings a sense of something, maybe relief, maybe revenge, to the families of the victims of 9/11, but I found the celebrating in the streets distasteful.

I don't think anyone's death is a cause of celebration ...

I always have the quote in the back of my mind that you cannot hate or love (something about) another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself.