Ding Dong, Osama bin Laden is Dead.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past three days, you’ve all heard the news: Osama bin Laden was killed in a hail of gunfire, his body buried at sea in a well orchestrated CIA operation over the weekend. Moments after the news was official, it was a very bitter sweet moment when my wife and I saw people of all colors celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden in cities all over the United States. But none brought it home more than watching people rejoicing in his death at World Trade Center.
It brought back a lot of painful memories that didn’t just involve this one man. Aside from feelings of utter panic, helplessness, and a tremendous sense of loss for human life, brown folk, especially Sikhs, were suddenly viewed of as different. We weren’t included in the “us” and had become the “them” unless we could prove otherwise by elaborate displays of patriotism, which included waving the flag, belting out “U.S.A.” and in some cases, wearing a turban made out of the American flag.
It wasn’t a shock that the first hate crime victim after 9/11, Balbir Singh Sodhi, was a turbaned Sikh, but it was still a devastating blow. And just recently, Arizona Rep. John Kavanagh introduced a bill wanting to remove Sodhi from the state’s 9/11 memorial because he wasn’t a “9/11 victim.” Thankfully that bill was vetoed, but what I’m concerned with is that this bill was even introduced. And it was clearly attempting to remove the name of a man who didn’t look like “us.” Can we expect more instances where brown folk, Sikhs in particular, have to prove how American we are? Better stock up on those flags.
All over New York, police are strapped with guns to make us feel secure, and MTA police are armed with machine guns (not like the terrorists have bombs or anything). There are announcements telling people to “remain vigilant.” The same announcements after 9/11 that created the environment of mass xenophobia. A few days after 9/11, I remember reading about a Mexican farmworker in California being driven off the side of a road because the guys chasing him thought he was Middle Eastern.
Although very different in many regards, it reminds me of the Sikh reaction to Indira Gandhi’s death at the hands of her two Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for her hand in giving the order for Operation Blue Star. It was a psychological “win” for a short time.
Some Sikhs in Punjab were celebrating her death by handing out mithai; there were public demonstrations in places like the U.K., and Canada where the media showed Sikhs rejoicing in her death, even celebrating with fireworks, while many Hindus were in mourning. I understand the reason that many Sikhs were out celebrating her death back in 1984, just like I understand the reasons many Americans are celebrating Osama bin Laden’s death today. For the time being, his death is a psychological “win” for “us.”
September 11 took something away from all of us, and it took something extra from Sikhs and brown folk: the sense of security and the entitlement we felt to share in the pain of America. Osama bin Laden was a symbol of everything horrible that 9/11 represented, from the actual attacks, the devastating loss of life, to the hate crimes committed by Americans on Americans. And now he is dead, we are hoping it brings a sense of closure. So, we celebrate.
My wife feels very uneasy by the celebrations because of the memories that are being forced out, the strangeness of celebrating a man’s death, but also because we have a daughter and live right across the Hudson, a seven minute commute on the train or ferry into Manhattan. We constantly take our 1 year old, Kavya, into the City, so, if there is a retaliation attack spurred on by the celebrations, we could very well be in the middle of it. She wrote a blog post about her reaction moments after we heard the news (Read “Closure at a Cost” by Sona Charaipotra), and here is a link to my post (Read “Osama bin Laden is Dead. Now What?“)
I am also worried about a possible retaliation, but not just from terrorists. From other Americans as well. My thoughts immediately returned to 9/11 and the days, months, and years afterwards. Even today, a remnant of the aftermath from ten years ago, Sikh boys are bullied and called “Osama” like it’s no big deal, the general population are still completely ignorant of the Sikh identity, hate crimes targeting Sikhs are on the rise (link).
In the above video, entertainment journalist, Aseem Chhabra is being interviewed by New York 1 at Ground Zero. He is carrying an American flag, and has to explain to this duffer reporter that although he is originally from India, “this is my city, this is my country also.” I find it interesting that he joined in the celebration, but understand his reasons, and he is certainly not alone in celebrating. Osama bin Laden was a clearly evil man with no regard for human life, Muslim or otherwise, and the world is a better place without him in it. But is this a time to be happy and joyful?
Today, it’s a fist-pumping, flag waving, multicultural street party, but what happens after the party is over?
24 Responses to “Ding Dong, Osama bin Laden is Dead.”
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It used to be that TLH postings were hogged by somebody named,JODHA and SUNDARI in not so distant past.Now it is father-son duo of Pashaura singh dhillon-Navdeep singh dhillon,always afraid how others will percieve the sikhs or always having identity crisis.The no#1 most wanted has been taken out and be gracious and celebrate,if not then at least donot berate others.This sends a strong message do not mess with us,we'll get you by all means possible.Hopefully all terrorists or future terrorists will get this message and find another line of work.
Rajinder, thank you for commenting. I assure you, there is no hogging taking place, and you are welcome to write a guest post to add your views. My father, to the best of my knowledge, has not written anything for TLH. I don't think Sikhs have an identity crisis, but do feel that many people are ignorant and/or misinformed of the Sikh identity, primarily through various forms of the media. I don't think celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden is going to deter future terrorism, it may even fuel it. I'm not berating anyone who wants to celebrate, but I am raising some concerns I have. Again, thank you for commenting.
@Rajinder Singh – Remember me! I will also do my part to oblige and raise our so-called duo (that includes one that is not even a blogger on the website and demonstrates the commenter's ignorance) to a trio. Happy commenting!
Can't two people have same first name,afterall all sikh males have the same middle name.
[...] Singh Dhillon, on the blog The Langar Hall, writes about his reactions to the killing, (and, in his post, draws a parallel with how Sikhs celebrated the news of the assassination of [...]
Even the Pakistani cannot grudge thisIt was a master piece military operation . I hope they make a movie on it one day once the war is over. Only "EMPIRES" are capable off such brilliant and bold feats. Reminds one of "Operation Entebbe " done by another brilliant and bold set of people on this planet though not an empire.
'Once the war is over ' Yes. what good is there stopping to celebrate a battle won, when the war is still raging !
The rag tag army of “Al Queda” is no match for the “EMPIRES” army.
10 years, Trillion dollars and who knows how many precious lives lost and how many under constant threat and unseable fear throughout the world community fighting who, the rag tag ? The author is gone, the book is out there. I don't know any empires killing an ideology with bullets alone! When they did the celebration wasn't for too long . That is history !
Let us do a thought experiment :–Imagine Osama had won the war . How would the world become different ?logic says that a) We would have to go to Mosque 5 times a day to say prayers. b) Our girls would have to wear "BURQAS". c) Each time we drank alcohol we would be whipped. etc etc Any else way the world would have changed I would be more than happy to know.
One gain would that would certianly accrue to "MEN" if Osama won would be that they would all become better 'LOVERS".
Given the fact the Hero of Muslims "Prophet Muhammad " had
"11 WIVES" starting from Aisha of age 10 year onward and he managed to keep them all happy .
According to an account by Anas bin Malik said, "The Prophet used to visit all his wives in a round, during the day and night and they were eleven in number.
The difference between Osama and religious folks of all stripes in our
modern society….is that he actually acted on his stupid/bronze-age
scripture….that has no place in a world where we are spending billions to split atoms so as to understand the origin of the universe some 13.72 billions years
I see a lot of similarities of end metted to UBL and JSB,both lived and died by the sword.Both were non state actors and tried to challange the might of duly elected state appratus.Both tried to spread their idealogy of hatered but after initial spurt all these idealogies failed.
I think there is a difference between UBL and JSB.
1)JSB was more inspired by the Killngs on Baisakhi of 13 Apr 1978 by “NIRANKARIS” which is unlikely to repeat it self.
I think JSB was a one time phenomenon .
2)USB in contrast was inspired by the scripture “KORAN”.
More USB may be produced down the line
The most interesting comment on this post !
In Punjabi They say "Dushman marey ta khush na hoeiey,Sajna v tur jana"
I think we should better spend our energy n time on educating kids who r the future about first ammendment in US constitution.Kids need to be educated if we want to end the terrorism or fear,Bullet for bullet will end this whole world one day
Thanks,very well written blog by Mr.Dhillon,i really appreciate your concern
lots more to say but for now just wanted to share this quick analysis by noam chomsky on bin laden's death– http://www.guernicamag.com/blog/2652/noam_chomsky…
and to add that i have definitely felt a surge in racist harassment since last week, not sure if others have had that experience. unfortunately bin laden's death does not mean an end to bigotry nor will it mean an end to US wars in the middle east, or anti-US terrorism for that matter.
I guess you got to read this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_and_anthropogenic_disasters_by_death_toll
From recent times 763 AD to 2009 AD Mankind has fought big wars ( Indo -pakistan wars not included )= 51 on this planet earth.
This gives a average of :— “ONE WAR EVERY 24 YEAR ”
This gives statistics of People killed =
a) Mean = 10,593,360
b) Maximum = 100,000,000 in Amerca Colonization
c) Minimum = 8000 killed in Srebrenica massacre
Welcome to Planet earth
Thanks. NC is brilliant – wish we had a sikh role model like him.
I am perplexed with the coverage and reaction from places such as America and India. Here in England, we were told he was dead. A couple of people punched the air in delight. Most others went back to putting the kettle on or drinking another beer. Is Europe really the only continent mature enough to understand that this man's 'power' ran out as soon as his 'money' ran out. He was not the head of some organisation. Simply because that 'organisation' as an 'organisation' doesn't exist. Its an ideology. Not an entity. A young girl sitting in her bedroom in New Jersey drawing pictures of Palestine on the cover of her schoolbook is 'al-quaida'. A middle aged man in Yorkshire, marching against the idea of British troops being in the middle east, is al-quaida. These people didn't join some organisation called 'al-quaida' by sending off their application form to the general manager 'bin ladan' . You can neither fight a war with an ideology nor finish off an ideology by killing some fella sitting in a farm house in Punjab.
[...] been on the road, my head spinning with newspaper headlines and the voices of cable news pundits. Navdeep posted some thoughtful reflections and questions here, and in the meantime, we’ve had the [...]
Life is for celebration.Not death.Even death of an enemy is not a matter for celebration.It aught to be a matter for introspection.If some Sikhs celebrated death of Indra Gandhi they were wrong.Retaliation against Sikh community as a whole was worse.Osam deserved death for his crimes.Celebration for his death May be cathrsisfor emotions_it is not in order.Let there be intrspection for a peaceful tomorrow for whole of humanity.
"Osama bin Laden was a clearly evil man with no regard for human life, Muslim or otherwise, and the world is a better place without him in it."
I'd like to pick up Navdeep Singh on this comment and maybe the wider public as well as I find myself believing ;
a) that statement is incorrect, labeling OBL as evil;
b) oversimplifies the problem by labeling him or anyone responsible of a such a crime so.
Clearly he was wrong and misguided and I believe his death in the manner it occurred was the correct course of action, regardless of whether he was armed or not. The world was not ready to deal with him as prisoner and the central piece to a show trial which would have inflamed the situation worldwide.
However evil? Really? Do we label all muslims or extreme sectors of society as evil because they resort to such extreme actions? One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter and just as the United States and the western world is is seen as evil in various parts of the world, the same is true in the reverse and why? Because suffering and death occur in the names of the these entities everyday.
We in the west are so removed from living in fear of your life everyday under tyrannical authorities, some we support because they serve a purpose for us and others we don't but do nothing about because there's no economical/political reward for doing so.
I don't buy the argument he was evil at all, to do so would exonerate actions carried out by the west which we also clearly know to be wrong but have no interest in addressing as our lives are comfortable and we don't live in fear of death and suffering for simply voicing our thoughts and opinions and where just making it to the next day alive is a victory, EVERY DAY.
The world will only be a better place if we can penetrate past the actions of such extremists and their supporters to see what drives them to place human life on such a low level, we're all born innocent with the same light within us and somewhere along the line something happens that causes us to lose all perspective and become self serving regardless of the consequences.
If you read the post in question one more time, you might find it tries to drive the same point home as you set out to do. May be not in the same exact words !