Osama bin Shot! 05/03/2011
 
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We’ve all heard the news… Osama has been found and killed. His body has already been buried at sea.

The purpose of his immediate burial was to respect Islamic customs that a body be put to rest about 24 hours after death. According to abcnews.com, “Traditional washing of the body was followed by wrapping in white sheets. A military officer read religious remarks that were translated by a native Arabic speaker, then bin Laden was eased into the sea.”

Some people are not too pleased to hear that bin Laden was given a burial. I have read blog comments that say, “Stuff his body and put it on display at ground zero,” “Light his body on fire and drop him from a sky rise building,” “Put his head on a stick,” “Hang his corpse from a bridge…” Those are the nicer suggestions

I understand people’s anger. We all wanted this man caught. No one is upset that he was killed.

Is it wrong for us to respect an Islamic tradition and provide a semblance of a proper burial? Should we destroy the body and let people abuse it?

I lost no sleep in hearing that Osama was shot and killed. Ok, I lost a little. I read about it on my phone while lying in bed and jumped up to read about it online. I was surprised to hear the next day that he was already buried. I didn’t know about the rules of Islam.

Call me mad but I think we did the right thing. We can’t treat his body the way he treated the living. We are not the same as this man. Does that mean that the way he is treated after death is better than he deserves? Evil will always take advantage of good. But that doesn’t mean we stop doing good. We, through our actions, set the standard for the world.

What do you think? Did the US do the right thing in the way Osama’s body was handled?
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Check Please 03/01/2011
 
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No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.- John 15:13

As I write this, my wife and I are flying home to California to visit family. Sitting next to my wife is a gentleman in a United States military uniform. This has inspired me to acknowledge the men and women who serve and protect us.

The people who serve in our military today are volunteers. For whatever reason, they made the choice to sign up. They have made a commitment that could cost them their lives. I think these men and women should be acknowledged for that.

They have made a commitment to us. I think we should make a commitment to them. I think those who serve in the military should be honored and respected while wearing the uniform. I applaud those businesses who give discounts to the military and restaurants who, on certain holidays, extend a free meal to service men and women. I think we the public should show our appreciation in practical ways.

I think we should pay the check for any uniform we see eating a meal. Isn’t that the least we can do?

Call me crazy, but I think someone who is actively serving in the military and in uniform, should never have to pay for a meal when they are in public. What are your thoughts? Will you ask the waiter for the check for a uniformed serviceman/woman?

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