The Dalai Lama weighed in on Osama Bin Laden and the possibility of forgiveness today.
As a human being, Bin Laden may have deserved compassion and even forgiveness, the Dalai Lama said in answer to a question about the assassination of the Al Qaeda leader. But, he said, “Forgiveness doesn’t mean forget what happened. … If something is serious and it is necessary to take counter-measures, you have to take counter-measures.”
A very measured approach by someone who is known for peace. It does seem like the LA Times is accurately saying that it seems like he’s saying that the US is justified in killing Bin Laden. It sounds vaguely like the Just War theory. Perhaps the Dalai Lama is saying that he’s too dangerous to be kept alive at this juncture and that in order to protect the public the United States is justified in killing him instead of imprisoning him.
I’m not sure I agree, but I can understand the mentality.
Dick McCloskey, who’s daughter Katie, died in the attacks had similar thoughts in the LA Times:
“The killing of a human being is never a good thing. I think it’s necessary sometimes, and in this case it was necessary. We had to get rid of this guy, and I applaud those who put their lives on the line to do this. But for anybody who wants to celebrate, I’d rather see them do that by doing something good for someone today.”
Like most people I’ve talked with, the issue of celebrating the death of Bin Laden with a beer bash in the streets seems to be what strikes many as inappropriate, at best.
All of this undoubtedly played into the good sense that President Obama showed by not releasing the pictures of a dead Bin Laden. His mention of not needing to “spike the football” was on the mark in my opinion.
As I’ve been saying all week. It’s time to stop stupid celebrations and start to do some serious healing through reconciliation.