Community Corner

Around NJ: Mixed Response to Bin Laden Death

A complicated moment in history elicits complicated reactions.

Some were relieved. Some were anxious.

Some were jubilant. Some were put off by celebrations of a lost life.

But throughout New Jersey, one thing remained consistent—the death of Osama bin Laden was big news in a state that lost close to 700 people in the horror of Sept. 11, 2001.

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Over the last two days, Patch editors in the Garden State have heard countless compelling reactions to the historic death. Many saw it as a victory, a move toward a safer world, and an opportunity for closure. Others saw it as a hollow killing, a possible prompt for reprisals, and a catalyst for the reopening of old wounds.

Among the responses we encountered:

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Battles Behind, and Ahead

“It’s certainly good news, and it says to people, no matter where you are, and no matter how long, we’ll find you. There’s still a lot of fighting, a lot of hard fighting, that will have to be done. There’s going to be vengeance, and they’ll want to show their relevance. There’s no need to scale back (troops) right now.”—Tim Fallon, Long Valley, a first Marine lieutenant who lost his sight from an IED explosion in Afghanistan in November.

“All of us are proud of the skilled and courageous troops whose surgical attack brought down this diabolical man. It is good that this chapter of history is closed, but unfortunately, we live in a time when we must continue to be vigilant against terrorists who only want to see more injury to America.”—

"I would say ... that I am proud and relieved to know that our country, led by two presidents over their very different administrations, continued the covert pursuit of Osama bin Laden. And now, to paraphrase President Obama, we should remember the solidarity experienced after 9/11 going forward."—

"I'm a little nervous that the jubilation people have over [the death] will be, to some, an insult. We have to always be at the ready. It's a way of life now."—Mike Roberts, Millburn fire chief, explaining he was fearful of the possibility of reprisals

“While the death of bin Laden will not bring back any of our loved ones that were taken from us 10 years ago, hopefully, as predicted by the many news analysts last night, his death will weaken the groups of al-Qaida that are scattered throughout the world without Bin Laden to inspire their mayhem.”—

Can Healing Begin?

"Closure is the word everyone uses. But it's a hard word to use when my husband, the father of my children is gone. He's gone every day. That doesn't change. But it was an open piece—this person out there was eluding us. I don't know if you ever get closure with something like this, but it does bring closure to that piece of it. "—Cheryl Desmarais, Millburn, whose husband died in the World Trade Center

“There will never be total justice as far as I’m concerned.”—

"I put all the lights on in my house, and outside my house" after hearing about bin Laden's death. "And, I thought, 'This is what I did when my husband was murdered.' And, I felt like taking the flag out of the flag pole and marching down the street. I wanted people to wake up."—

“I wanted to be happy, but I felt a deep sadness that there is no closure. There is no good reason for this to have happened except for this radicalism and fanaticism, and I don’t know how anybody goes about getting to the source of that evil.”—

A Death to Celebrate?

"I don’t want to say I wasn’t glad. But I feel like celebrating it brings attention to us in a bad way."–

“I’m a Christian. I don’t want to celebrate the death of anyone. But this tyrant needed to go. This man created havoc in the world and he deserved to be killed.”–

"We can be glad that a mass murderer is gone from the face of the earth."—

“Bin Laden was universally despised because of his murders and his viciousness. I think most people worldwide are pleased that he's been put out and pleased that the United States was able to do it.”—

"I bet the sharks won't even eat him,"—Sal Gugliemello, Hopatcong

"There's bigger things to deal with than some guy who's already on dialysis finally dieing."—

"We were very happy to hear it. Especially that it was up close and personal instead of a bomb."—Corinne Krachtus, who lost her sister, Daphne Pouletsos of Westwood, when the World Trade Center towers fell.

A Decade of Waiting

"My 12-year-old daughter used to ask me, 'When are they going to get our bad guy?' I can finally give her the answer."—
“It’s 10 years too late for us.”–Nancy Brandemarti, West Deptford, whose son, Nick Brandemarti Jr. died in the South Tower of the World Trade Center

On the Media Coverage

"Well, maybe the Royal Couple can finally get some privacy."—Bob Masterson, Hasbrouck Heights (video) 


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