American Nightmare

America. The goal towards which many strive. Oh sure, everyone despises America for it's foreign policies and double share of numbskulls, but offer a chance to go live and work there and most internationals would jump for the opportunity.

Why?

America is AMERICA. It's only the most well-known nation. Aside from Hollywood, America has a reputation of freedom, inalienable rights and jobs - and not just the crummy street-sweeping ones either.

Well, It looks like I'm going to have to disappoint you. America, while it has the appearance of all the above characteristics, is crucially lacking in the job department. Unless you have an impressive resume (CV) and plenty of years left to work, you're pretty much sunk.

(Now, I'm going to be honest here; My resume's a little wimpy. Unfortunately, a wimpy resume makes it hard to get jobs, leaving your resume almost eternally wimpy. That small fact aside, coupled with the inability to work more than one summer in a continuous capability, renders me unhireable, it appears.) 

So, despite applying to more than 20 jobs in the last few days (not to mention over 30 in the past few weeks), I have only one lead and that one appears fragile at best. Needless to say, I'm practically bashing my brains out.

So yes, America the great employer still thrives in all its glory; the American Dream still shines its light into the world, a beacon of hope for individuals everywhere. All you need is an Italian silk suit and a Lexus. Meanwhile, the only American dream I see is an American Nightmare.

Death. A reason to celebrate?

So, Osama/Usama bin Laden/Ladin is now dead. I want to say 2 things about this.

Firstly, I am glad for America having achieved, after almost 10 years, the initial goal of the Afghan front. I won't lie and say I wasn't excited, I was. But, at the same time, neither was I overly ecstatic.

Secondly, it's pretty evident that the death has caused quite a stir. If you simply look on Facebook,  you have the opportunity to see many people posting comments about it. Among these comments, though, there are three different perspectives: the many ecstatic, caps-locked OSAMA IS DEAD followed by exclamation points, interjections, patriotic comments or combinations thereof; the few simple staters-of-the-event, like myself; and the even smaller group criticizing the first group. Yes, you read correctly, there are those who criticize the patriotic, enthusiastic celebrations of the masses, but, if you think about their reasons, they might make some sense or even convict you as they did me.

These lunatics show some degree of scorn towards the mass celebrations of bin Laden's death. "Why?" you ask; for 7 reasons:

1. Osama was not a Christian and, as such, will find himself subject to eternal damnation in hell.
2. Osama was a human being with family and friends that will mourn his loss and miss him.
3. It has been almost 10 years since the destruction of the WTC on 9/11, rendering the death no longer defense of the nation, but retribution.
4. While Osama was key in organizing the 9/11 attacks, he was, at the point of his death, more a figurehead than an actual leader, making his death of no significant import for Al Qaeda.
5. He was not made to account for his crimes leaving justice unfulfilled.
6. Since when do we celebrate death?                       -AND-
7. If we mourn the deaths of those we love and we are told to love our enemies, where does that leave us?

So, really America? Really? You who, for the most part, call yourselves a Christian nation rejoice in the death of another human? What message does this send to those of other religions? Yes, enjoy the satisfaction of the end of one who caused mass amounts of suffering and death, but at the same time, keep in mind the reality of death: final. Osama is no more, justice has not and will never be brought into account because of this and he will never have the chance to repent and be forgiven, condemning his soul to eternal suffering. So, I ask you, is the death of bin Laden truly an occasion for celebration?