The Conflicted Morality of Celebrating Bin Laden’s Death

Osama bin Laden’s death sparked crowds to gather at ground zero in New York City, as well as Times Square, and in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. Cheers and chants of   “USA, USA, USA,” were heard. These scenes of exaltation have some Americans wondering if celebrating death, even that of a terrorist, is actually the moral and American thing to do. Rev. Paul Raushenbush, is the associate dean of Religious Life and the Chapel at Princeton University, and is the senior religion editor for The Huffington Post. He was also a chaplain at Columbia University during the September 11, 2001 attacks. He reflects on the conflicting emotions surrounding the death of the terrorist leader.
Below: Video of Times Square, following announcement of Bin Laden’s death, Sunday