bin Laden, dead at last

May 2, 2011 by Jeff Jarvis
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This blog began out of 9/11. I survived the attacks on the World Trade Center, and after reporting on the event I had more to say, more to remember and understand. So I started this blog, which at first was called “WarLog: World War III.” Such was the time.

Tonight, with the news of bin Laden’s death, memories are revived in me, vile images and horrible memories of that day and his crime, sadness that tempers the joy. But I will try not to dwell on his act. Instead, this is a time to keep his victims in our thoughts.

As soon as I saw the news, I turned by reflex to Twitter. Twitter is our Times Square on this victory day. A reporter asked me tonight whether this would be a defining moment for Twitter. Another one, I said. Today, our grand shared experience around news is no longer defined as all of us watching TV. Now, TV is in the background. Twitter is where many of us come to find out the news and share our thoughts and feelings.

Just as it was too soon days after 9/11 to understand my feelings, I need to wait after this event to take it in. But I hope this: As 9/11 gave us perspective and unity, so do I hope this event reminds us of our priorities, driving the inanity of the birthers and brawlers off our front pages and news shows so we get back to the precious work of a free society.

This is the season of freedom, its spring. The dictators and terrorists who have held the Middle East and the world in their filthy grip are being defeated. Freedom is rising in the Middle East thanks not to warriors from either side but to brave youth and citizens.

I wish I were at the World Trade Center right now. I would drive there now, after midnight, but I need to take my daughter to school in the morning. And that reminds me of the night of September 11, 2001, when I was blessed to come home to my family, my children. That set my own priorities. So I will celebrate this news by being with our daughter in the morning. Then I will go to New York. I will go there to pay respect first, celebrate second.

I needed to come back to this blog tonight to thank it and you for helping me through the aftermath of 9/11 and for giving me so much more. I need to go to bed now. Good night.

: (Here is the story I reported that day and here are my audio recollections.)

  • dean

    Jeff, thank you kindly for this (and the 9/11 audio pieces you did and I just listened to). After reading and listening, I was able to truly put tonight’s news in the right perspective.

    Enjoy your sleep and wake energized to take your story forward in a new light!

  • http://crader.co Steven Crader

    Thank you for sharing this story and the audio form 9/11.

  • Michael

    Besides the fact that one key figure was shot – what “justice” exactly is Mr O. talking about, considering the many thousends of killed by the US in this decade alone…?

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  • http://www.searchengines.ru/blog/ Gray

    Jeff, don`t you wonder, why Osama is dead but not alive, jailed in special prison and convicted under the law for terrorism as well as nazist leaders for war crimes after WWII?

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  • Zack

    This announcement found me in a similar way, my network alerting me of the news and then I can go and find it. After cutting my cable a few months ago and filling the gap quite nicely I could not go to TV and watch the president’s statement. This was no problem though, remove cell phone from pocket, open Al Jazerra English app and start their live stream and watch just what I couldn’t watch on TV. CNN, MSNBC or a network were nowhere to be found.

  • Jarvis Coffin

    Nice post, Jeff. Good thoughts.

    Jarvis.

  • Mark Stevens

    So they finally got Osama Bin Laden! This is good news in that they finally killed the symbolic leader of most Islamist radicals. Probably no one rejoices more than the Moderate Muslims living abroad in non Muslim countries. Where they have been treated as if they were religious radicals. Where does this leave the United States and it’s allies fighting in Afghanistan? Will Al Qaeda fizzle away until all that’s left is a civil war in Afghanistan. Does this not add to the futility of this war? What will happen to the Arab Spring? My guess is it will become stronger. http://politicsdisgust.blogspot.com/

    • Andy Freeman

      > Probably no one rejoices more than the Moderate Muslims living abroad in non Muslim countries.

      How about some evidence of said rejoicing in significant amounts?

      > Where they have been treated as if they were religious radicals.

      So, CAIR gets a pass because they wrap themselves in the Koran….

      > What will happen to the Arab Spring?

      The Muslim Brotherhood will still probably end up with significant amounts of power in Egypt.

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  • Jun

    Mr Jarvis,

    I got to know about you and your blog as well as your thoughts on the economics and the way world should be through your book “What would Google Do?”

    By reading this post on your blog, I’m impressed by how human you are and it makes me smile that you put your family before anything else.

    I wanted to thank you for providing many innovational thoughts, it helps me a lot in developing myself as a better learner of economics and society.

    Keep up the good work!

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  • http://www.emlakhaberci.com huseyinusluu

    It’s not means the terrorist attacks stop.I think.Americans will may be more attacks by terrorist ,specially who oversea .
    Reply

  • http://www.ortasinifevsahibioluyor.com huseyinusluu

    Nice post, Jeff. Good thoughts.

  • http://www.sonprojeler.com huseyinusluu

    Very surprised to hear this today, I can understand why they wanted him dead but without any proof I wonder how well this news is received in the middle east.

  • http://www.projehaberleri.net huseyinusluu

    It’s not means the terrorist attacks stop..

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  • Maria

    How lovely this is. God Bless!

  • Steve

    An amazing story Jeff and as others have said, listening to your original mp3 files from that time, really does put this in to context.
    I hope you get closure from this.

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  • Johannes H

    I have a problem. It’s not that I don’t share your views of the world, because I don’t, but it’s just that I don’t think the things you and Gina talked about in TWiG are closely enough related to Google or cloud computing to justify being in the show. I mean if anything, that has somehow Twitter involved is considered as a story worth to be mentioned in TWiG, then I think All About Android is more my show. I’m sorry to say that because I will miss your insight on the things that interest me and AAA can’t really fill that gap between only android news and more social commentary.

  • Will

    With the death of bin Laden the United States has a historic opportunity to rethink its approach to a $120 billion a year war that is adding significantly to the national debt without adding to our national security. It is time to bring America’s engagement in Afghanistan back into balance with its interests there…and it can be done for far less than $120 billion a year. More and more conservatives see the struggling economy and excessive borrowing for decade-long wars as the greatest threat to America’s national security.

    Ann Coulter, for one, recognizes that this war is “bleeding us dry” with no strategic benefit. You can find Coulter’s thoughts on Afghanistan here: http://www.afghanistanstudygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Coulter-Clip-Excerpt1.wmv

    So why isn’t the Republican leadership showing decisiveness in taking a stand on wasteful spending in Afghanistan and offering a policy alternative to Obama’s failed status quo?

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  • http://authoru.org/ Judith Briles

    The news that Osama Bin Laden is already dead has not only set exultant feelings to people directly affected by the 9/11 incident nor on people disturbed by Islamic conquers but also by people who are in fear of future occurrences of war and battle. It is indeed heartwarming to listen to a person who have in a way been affected by the 9/11 attack. Nothing is definitely worthwhile than to set your family as your first priority. Godbless to you! :)

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