I Shall Not Rejoice, pt. II

The second reason relates to the title of this article. I remember September 11, 2001. After the attacks were over and news spread worldwide of the carnage that occured, news stations were covering international reaction to the attack on our country. One segment showed Palestinians, cheering and laughing in the streets, firing off weapons into the air in celebration. According to some reports, candy was distributed to children in the streets. One would think that they had all just won the lottery, judging from the reaction.

The segment was quickly pulled from the air by all networks by request of the president. Their elation over the deaths of their fellow human beings was unthinkable. "Why are you celebrating, while the rest of the world grieves?" I thought.

I am glad the reign of Saddam is gone, and shall no more murder, rape and repress those in in Iraq. No more feeding people into giant paper shredders. No more gas attacks. No more tortures, brutality or dismemberment in Saddam's name. It's kind of hard to rejoice though, when these things have been replaced by entire regions bent on killing one another- through mass kidnappings, blowing bystanders into red clouds of goo, and other assorted atrocities. The cycle is repeated over and over again.

Both are examples of what happens when we teach children to hate, by our own example. The seed grows and soon becomes something that is beyond control. A spiritual Frankenstein's monster. Proverbs 24:17 says it best "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles."