Ding-Dong, bin Laden's Dead!

I know, I know.

This is what everyone is talking about, blogging about and reading about. But, how can I not write about it myself? This is a part of what defines my generation.

These are the reasons people my age are celebrating (i.e. going to Ground Zero, the White House and Times Square):

1. Many 20-something people were in grade school through high school when 9/11 happened. This is something that we've been dealing with as we became adults. There hasn't been one second of my adult life that our country hasn't been at war with terrorists.

2. This is something that we said we were going to do. We said, directly following the murder of our citizens on 9/11, that we would bring those responsible to justice. When we say we're going to do something we do it. Yes, it took longer than it should have, but it's done.

3. This man represents every nightmare many of us had growing up. He was the leader of the Al Qaeda (which I had never ever heard of before) and the man responsible for the death of over 3,000 Americans. I know that the War on Terrorism isn't over, but this is the end of one chapter in this long and tragic book. In my opinion, a chapter that has gone on way too long.

4. We're not celebrating the death of a human. We're celebrating the idea that justice was served to a terrorist with the blood of over 3,000 Americans on his hands. September 11, 2001 marked the day that America was attacked on such a destructive level that it exceeded the destruction of Pearl Harbor.

5. This doesn't mean the end of the war, or terrorism, or even the end of the Al Qaeda. I don't care. This could be the beginning of a string of retaliation attempts. I don't care. For once, we as Americans have the chance to truly celebrate patriotism, our troops and the beginnings of, what could be, the end of many evil things on this earth.

6. On a lighter note, May 1st will mark yet another Anniversary. On May 1, 1945 it was also announced that Hitler had committed suicide. (Also, the Battle of Hogwarts started on May 1st and ended on May 2nd when Harry Potter defeated and killed Voldemort.) Coincidence? I think not. April is the worst month, May must be the best.

I leave you humming "Proud to be an American." Because it's been stuck in my head all day.