A restorative response to Bin Laden’s death
May 2, 2011
The following is a facebook post by Antonio Aversano:
Having lost my dear Father Louis on 9/11/01 in the destruction of the World Trade Center, I do not feel justice was served by killing Osama Bin Laden. In being acquainted with the American system of justice since my Dad’s murder, I have personally experienced the reality that retributive justice does not comfort the aching hearts of victims of violence nor does it shape their lives in a positive way for the journey of healing that we all must face from such a loss. It has been my personal experience that only practices of restorative justice and personal and community support can offer such an opportunity to truly find a path of healing that will serve victimized individuals and communities. It is also my experience in these early morning hours that the celebrations over Bin Laden’s death appear to me as being misguided and point to the dangerous disconnection and desensitization we have as a society to the realities of violence and death. The out pouring of “euphoria” at this time equally points to the darker side of our collective conscience that would take pride in the murder of another human being. I believe that through the celebration of the murder of such an ” enemy”, we are reduced to the level of arrogance and blind sightedness that seems to be eerily similar to the way of thinking that was the seed of those very acts of terror that took my Father and thousands of other lives 10 years ago. I pray and ask that if you feel moved to honor the families of those lost on 9/11, to consider this day as a time of reflection, remembrance and soul searching; not a day of celebration.
