Is it morally right to celebrate bin Laden's death?
Rick Halperin, director of Southern Methodist University’s Embrey Human Rights Program, discusses the moral and ethical side of how the death of Osama Bin Laden should be viewed.
By John Blake
CNN Writer
(CNN) - Festive crowds gathered to cheer his assassination.
One newspaper headline eulogy read, “Rot in Hell.” Televised chants echoed: “U.S.A.! U.S.A!”
Americans spilled into the streets for spontaneous celebrations after news spread that Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks, had been assassinated.
Yet another reaction took place in more sober moments as people of faith watched the giddy celebrations with a tangled mix of emotions.
Is it morally wrong to celebrate the assassination of bin Laden in such a festive, patriotic way? . . .
Some leaders say that dancing on bin Laden’s grave is wrong from an ethical point of view as well.
“Killing someone should never be a cause for celebration or joy,” says Rick Halperin, past chairman of the board of directors of Amnesty International USA.
“We as a nation are repulsed when we see Muslims dancing over the death of
Americans. Why would we think our reaction would not be seen as disgusting behavior to them?”
The best reaction would be “somber reflection,” says Halperin, who is also director of Southern Methodist University’s Embrey Human Rights Program
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