Osama Bin Laden’s killing by U.S. Navy Seals May 1 sparked a spirited Town Hall debate about whether or not the United States has a moral obligation to assassinate terrorists, how the government treated Bin Laden’s body, and whether celebrations over the terrorist’s death were appropriate.
“I don’t think celebrating the death of anyone is right,” said sophomore Yael Weiner. “I don’t think that you have to show off and throw a party.”
Freshman Eric Lunzer disagreed, saying, “He still was a person, [but] he needed to be killed and I think that people should be allowed to celebrate his death.”
While most of those who spoke commended the United States for assassinating Bin Laden, Science teacher Mr. Christopher Buckley bemoaned the fact that it had taken almost a decade to do so.
“I am not saying this to be critical,” Mr. Buckley said. “He [Bin Laden] spent 10 years laughing at us… I honestly wasn’t that happy. I can’t believe it took this long.”
There was also disagreement over whether the United States had correctly dealt with Bin Laden’s corpse. Some praised the United States for dealing with his body respectfully by burying it in the North Arabian Sea, complying roughly with Islamic custom. Others thought the United States should have disregarded his body, and that Bin Laden was a man who didn’t deserve to have a proper burial.
“When Osama Bin Laden ordered two planes into the Twin Towers, he completely disregarded any people’s feelings,” sophomore Jacob Ellenhorn said. “He should be treated the same way that he treated the people on September 11.”
Controversy also surfaced when the discussion shifted to whether torture tactics should be used to extract information from prisoners. History teacher Mr. Lawrence Mullin referred to the views of Arizona senator John McCain.
“John McCain underwent torture for the United States, and he clearly said that the United States should not torture anyone,” Mr. Mullin said. “One of the things that it touches upon is that the United States holds itself to higher levels.”
But Junior Justin Brandt-Sarif disagreed.
“We full-out torture people, and if that led to Osama’s death, so be it,” Justin said. “How many times have we taken down the most wanted criminal in the world? He was a defining character in 9/11.”
Teachers and students from all different grades contributed to the discussion, and as the bell rang signifying the end of Town Hall, students were still raising their hands.
“I knew that it would be a discussion that people would be interested in, and I was right,” said Agenda Chair Toby Bern. “This was an overall success for the Agenda Committee.”
