Monday, May 2, 2011

On victory.

This doesn't bring anyone back, and I don't know that it directly prevents any harm or death. But for the discouragement to those who would ruin themselves and harm others in pursuit of error, and for the hope brought to those who would bring change of a better sort, I rejoice.

Nevertheless. If I can spill drops of wine at the Passover seder in regret over the death of Pharaoh's armies chasing my fleeing ancestors, I should be able to mourn the necessity of Osama bin Laden's death, even if not the death itself. I have not yet taught myself to shed a tear for the death of the wicked as of the righteous; but God's midrashic rebuke to the angels celebrating at the Red Sea is with me today: "My creatures suffer, and you rejoice?"

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