In my Ancient Civilizations class, we have been discussing about Ancient Rome and how the depravity of the society led the people to go to the arena and watch other individuals, enemies of the state, be torn alive. It was their entertainment. It was bloodlust, and it was justified because the people being killed were enemies of the state and deserved the death. Some of the individuals being killed were truly criminals and had done horrendous things, while others were simply political or religious minorities (most notably Christians)
There has been a recent call for the Obama Administration to release the pictures and videos of the death of Bin Laden. I sincerely hope that they refuse to do this. While we can all rejoice that an evil man is no longer to threat, to gloat in his death with the pictures and videos of his dead cadaver is something that should not be applauded in the 21st Century. In one way it is understandable to understand people’s bloodlust over a man who did so many horrendous actions; however, on the other hand it is awakening the darkest parts of our soul that we should run from rather than explore.
While I do believe we have advanced morally and ethically since the days of Ancient Rome with the gladiator fights, wild animals tearing humans apart, and the chaos of the Coliseum, in another way, perhaps that same bloodlust still finds its self reappearing from time to time in our society. I hope that the death of Bin Laden helps bring a certain aspect of evil to an end; however, if we are not careful the death of this man could release something evil, sinister, and depraved inside of us. If we are trying to find satisfaction for our need for revenge, we will never find it- no matter how many pictures and videos are released or how many additional terrorists are killed. Bloodlust and the need for revenge are most tragic because they can never be satisfied until they destroy our own souls.
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