{"id":352,"date":"2011-05-02T12:19:08","date_gmt":"2011-05-02T16:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/fearofwhales\/?p=352"},"modified":"2011-05-04T11:08:01","modified_gmt":"2011-05-04T15:08:01","slug":"osama-bin-ladin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/fearofwhales\/2011\/05\/osama-bin-ladin.html","title":{"rendered":"Osama bin Ladin"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>It just so happens that I was visiting New York City yesterday when Osama Bin Ladin was confirmed dead. After 10 years the long search is over<\/p>\n

Late yesterday afternoon I drove past Ground Zero, I saw the new One World Trade Center which is about a quarter built and already an imposing structure. Even though it’s clearly a construction site, it was lighted just like any of the other buildings on the New York Skyline as if to say “Yes, New York, This is your building. It’s Coming!”<\/p>\n

That site, Those buildings, the fateful day in 2001 when that horrible attack changed history forever has special significance to this city. To this day you can still approach any New Yorker and ask them where they were when it happened, and their tough, grizzled exterior will melt as they talk about friends they lost, and wax sentimental about what this city means to them and the solidarity they now share.<\/p>\n

So it’s really quite an unbelievable privilege that I was able to be in the City when he was caught.<\/p>\n

We did it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And now we can go about the Arts of Peace. Finishing the tower, grieving our losses, celebrating out heroes, and helping the war torn wastelands on the middle east to do the same by building schools and stabilizing political systems. It’s not over. The fighting won’t end here, but it is ending, we’re in the downhill stretch and we’re on our way to better times ahead for New York, and everywhere else in the world that values peace and love.<\/p>\n

\n
  • To read about the death of a Christian Pakistani in retaliation CLICK HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • CLICK HERE to read how Christians in Nigeria and Pakistan are worried<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • How should Christians react to bin Laden’s death? CLICK HERE to read several thoughts<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • To watch the video of the President’s statement, CLICK HERE<\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • READ HERE as Beliefnet’s Jim Fletcher asks if all Muslims are\u00a0evil<\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • To\u00a0consider\u00a0the heart-felt thoughts\u00a0of <\/strong>Debbie Lee, mom of the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq, CLICK HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • CLICK HERE to read bestselling author Linda Howard’s reaction<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • To consider the thoughts of Beliefnet’s Kirsten Jackson, CLICK HERE<\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • CLICK HERE to watch the reaction of New Yorkers at Ground Zer<\/strong>o<\/strong><\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • CLICK HERE for photos and the text of the President’s statement<\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • To read the reaction of Beliefnet’s Ryan Gaffney CLICK HERE<\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • CLICK HERE to read Beliefnet writer\u00a0Donna Calvin’s reaction<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    It just so happens that I was visiting New York City yesterday when Osama Bin Ladin was confirmed dead. After 10 years the long search is over Late yesterday afternoon I drove past Ground Zero, I saw the new One World Trade Center which is about a quarter built and already an imposing structure. 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