Live Oak Blues What happens.

“I never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.” – Mark Twain

Like you, I saw this quote on dozens of Facebook statuses this week. Amen. But I experienced unalloyed joy at the death of Osama Bin Laden and posted as much on Facebook. I’ve wanted him dead since the Clinton Administration. If I have to explain why, then I don’t know what to say to you.

This, of course, led to a debate between those uncomfortable with any kind of political assassination at the hands of the US and those who never have any issue with US brute force, especially in the Swarthy Regions.

As a lifelong Leftie myself, I found myself uncomfortably in the “middle” of this one, so allow me to clarify my position as clearly as I know how.

Stuff I Support

• The assassination of any terrorists, particularly the Big Game ones

• The continuing strengthening of our Intelligence network

• An immediate end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

• The naming of evil when I see it

Stuff I Don’t Support

• Jingoism of any kind (and the Righties have really screwed up patriotism for me as well)

• War as a spectator sport (the most egregious thing I was accused of for my post)

By the way, I also rejoiced at the deaths of Jerry Falwell, Charlton Heston, and Jesse Helms (although not so much after I heard about his turnaround on AIDS). I will also applaud and dance when Dick Cheney’s mechanical ticker finally runs out of batteries.

Questions?