The Real Heroes

Last week, when the news broke that Osama Bin Laden had died, I tried to sit down and write a poignant piece about my thoughts on the situation. I first heard via text message from a friend, but quickly was inundated with the thoughts and feelings of about 500 of my closest acquaintances via Facebook.

News stories showed people all over the US celebrating at various impromptu street celebrations. One interview at Ground Zero featured a reveler voicing her mixed emotions while drinking a Bud. I like to imagine her also wearing a bikini top on the shoulders of a shirtless festival-goer, but the story did not confirm those extra details.

The US has been fighting terrorists in Afghanistan for about ten years since 9/11. I suppose that by killing Osama Bin Laden, one objective in that war has been fulfilled. It means that the many Americans who have lost their lives didn't waste them in vain. I guess.

Basically, what I'm saying, is that just like the Bud guzzling young woman at Ground Zero, I'm not sure what this all means. I couldn't write the sincere heartfelt Op-Ed essay I was imagining because the strange mix of pride, disgust, relief, and wonder that filled my head was too much to put into expressive words.

So instead I popped in TaeBo and cracked myself up as I awkwardly punched and kicked alone in my living room with the company of the even more inelegant "TaeBo Heroes." Billy's words, not mine.