Mother's Day for 9/11 and Military Families

Most of the reactions that were shown after Osama bin Laden's death from those affected by him through 9/11 or the consequent wars following were anger-ridden tirades. Can you blame these individuals? I was not directly affected by these events but I've managed to develop emotional opinions. I can only imagine the emotions developed by those that were directly affected. Now, as we move to celebrate the first holiday -- Mother's Day -- since Bin Laden's death, you find that many families directly affected by his contemptible hate, are celebrating differently.

Rhonda Lopez, whose story can be fully read here, has a unique perspective. She lost her husband on Sept. 11, 2001. She says "people are celebrating, but there's no reason to celebrate. I don't feel justice has been served." In short, bin Laden's death didn't suddenly take the pain away. And with Mother's Day fast approaching she says "Mother's Day is coming up and my mother-in-law won't be getting a card from her son. For me, it's too late." I believe the sad reality is that the killing of bin Laden cannot possibly serve as a replacement for the void left by a lost family member. Bin Laden paid with his life, and when Lopez, or anyone in her scenario, realizes that isn't enough, the anger doesn't diminish, it grows.

As I have been searching the Internet, I'm finding this to be a common sentiment. Many of the victims are finding bin Laden's death to bring little closure. However, I have also found, not just confined to the victims of 9/11 and the two wars, people are looking at Mother's Day as a reason to celebrate life; to celebrate, well, mothers. In terms of people celebrating the holiday any differently in response to bin Laden's death, there isn't much to be found. While the victims of 9/11 and beyond will forever be in a certain degree of mourning over the horrible events of that day, they expressed their anger when the news of bin Laden's death broke and the following days.

As far as military families are concerned, yes Bin Laden is dead, and while there is a certain modest victory in that fact, our soldiers are still overseas. The true victory will be when they come home. On that day, Mother's Day, along with every other holiday during the year, will be celebrated in true, celebratory fashion.

Sources:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-05-02-911-families-joy-sadness-osama-bin-laden-death_n.htm

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/family-of-victim-sees-no-reason-to-celebrate/article_da97b9ee-7556-11e0-8fde-001cc4c03286.html