Hayes says: “We are called to forgiveness. And that is the only way that we can be truly free. Holding onto our hatred keeps us in slavery to bin Laden’s madness and gives the terrorists continued power over us.”
There is also a sense of false elation, he adds, “because many believe that the world is a safer place because of this death. That relief is probably misguided.”
Not only a sense of false elation, but a sense of false security, I might add. Later in the article the point is made that these public displays of jubilation might only add to the danger. A former FBI special agent says, “The reasons they hate us have not subsided, and this could reinvigorate things.”
Hatred begets hatred. Darkness fought with darkness does not bring light. Forgiveness *is* liberating. Once you’ve experienced these truths, you can’t un-know them. Perhaps the problem is that not enough of us have experienced these things?