Breaking

Osama Bin Laden is dead.

Dead dead dead.

And even though we've spent the past ten years talking about the war on terror, spent the past ten years allowing more and more invasive security practices at airports, spent the past ten years trying to heal from the absolute horror that occurred on September 11th, hearing that Osama Bin Laden is dead - dead as a doornail - just makes me feel numb.

I mean, what does this mean for us? What does this mean for the people who lost loved ones? Is it closure? Is it relief? Is it revenge? That finally, eye for an eye, justice has been done? Or does it dredge up past hurts, open up old wounds, and bring about new worries?

Because, now that he's dead, where does our nation go from here? I can't help but feel like it doesn't make a difference. Osama hasn't been orchestrating much from his hidden dirt cave in quite a while. Other extremists have taken over calling the shots. And now that he's dead, does that just give them more ammunition for the next time when they decide to strike again? If they decide to strike again?

Osama Bin Laden is dead. I should say good riddance, I know. But I wonder if it was all for naught. I highly doubt that he went to the grave realizing the profound devastation he caused so many families. That there was any regret for his actions. That he died thinking he was anything but a martyr. And that's what makes me feel so numb.

And then I see videos like this - Northwestern students, hands over hearts, standing together in salute, singing our National Anthem (in the library naturally), and chanting 'USA! USA!' and I feel like I should also be yelling from my windows that the Wicked Witch of the East is dead.

But as it is, my heart goes out to the families and the victims of 9/11. May you finally rest in peace.