Community Corner

Moms Council: Safer With Bin Laden Dead?

North Andover moms discuss whether or not the news of Osama bin Laden's death makes them feel safer for their families.

Moms Talk is part of a North Andover Patch initiative to reach out to moms and families.

North Andover Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in North Andover.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

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This week's question:

Osama bin Laden has been killed. Does this make you feel things are safer for you and your family? Why or why not?

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Darcy Rubino: Osama Bin Laden is dead. Like many other Americans this news caught me completely off guard. As I was watching Celebrity Apprentice, I heard the ever familiar sound of an email delivery on my phone. I checked the message from The Boston Channel, and could not believe what I was reading.

My initial reaction was happiness. I immediately told my husband the news, and we talked about what this meant for America. It means jubilation that Enemy #1 was not around anymore. It means that families that lost loved ones on September 11 might feel a small weight lifted off their hearts. It means that Al Qaeda would most likely want to retaliate in a big way. It means increased security at airports and train stations. It means that Americans are waiting to see if there is a Bin Laden cohort that is just as powerful as he was. We are all praying that there is not. I watched all the people gather outside the White House and celebrate a death.  This image struck me.

As an American, I want to celebrate. We just won a 10-year war against one man.  I felt guilty. Why are we celebrating a death?  Yes, I get that it is a big deal for America. And yes, my initial reaction was of the "we got the bastard" sort. But I felt that celebrating a death is not really a good thing - I was torn.

Then my friend posted a quote from Martin Luther King on Facebook that was really poignant. Through a little research I found out is wasn't a real quote from MLK.  I found the real quote and it still rings true to me: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation."

Hate multiplies hate. Truer words were never spoken. For me, the death of Bin Laden allows me to remember the families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11. It means a country that was stuck in a news cycle of craziness had a chance to report real news. It did not mean that I had to be happy that someone died. I choose to be happy for the September 11 families. But I do not choose to revel in the death of another human being.

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Wendy Bulawa Agudelo: No. I don’t feel any ‘safer’ knowing that one man, an evil radical one at that, is no longer living. There are multitudes of anti-American fanaticals residing around the world, and while bin Laden masterminded the most terrible and devastating terrorist attack on American soil to date, his death marks the loss of a single life. He had droves of followers who believe as he did, although they may not have the intelligence or ability to do as bin Laden did.

In the end, anti-American sentiment has existed for decades—for various reasons. If I feel safer today, it is predominantly because of our incredibly courageous, talented, and undeniably superior military who continue to stand guard to protect the rights not only of Americans and American interests, but simply put, innocent bystanders.

We’re so fortunate to live in a powerful country, but more fortunate that there are men and women who believe in America and its freedoms enough to protect it with their own lives. The courage and bravery of our military staggers me. I probably wouldn’t last a minute in the military, but for those souls that do join the ranks, I consider them worthy of so much. They have something I don’t, and that is what we should celebrate this week.

It’s not the death of a violent criminal we should cheer, but the bravery, compassion, strength and endurance of our military and their families who keep our lives safe each and every day. At this point, we’ve entered a new generation and our families, friends, and colleagues may all one day be forced to become warriors. So, amid a time of war (which we remain at this moment), we should all work to protect those we love, as well as those around us. Maybe then, we’ll ALL feel a little more safe.

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Michele Gorham: I think the death of Bin Laden is undoubtedly a huge milestone for our country. I believe people who lost family and friends on 9/11 will find some comfort. I believe that dead (as opposed to alive) was absolutely the right desicion. 

But no, I absolutely don't feel things are safer. How do you feel safer when every government official between then and now has reminded us that we need to be vigilant? The fear of retaliation is oozing out of every news station and the focus for coverage has turned from celebration, to its effects.

Am I scared to leave my house?  Absolutely not! After all, North Andover would hardly serve as the pinnical of terrorist revenge. But I wouldn't be swayed in regards to things like traveling, or trips into the city either. What makes me feel safe are the men and woman fighting for our country. They should all be commended, and received with respect and assistance when they return home.

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OUR MOMS COUNCIL

Wendy Bulawa Agudelo -- Wendy is the mother to three young children (5 and under) — including a set of twin boys. In her spare time, she is an avid features writer covering a broad array of parenting topics from special needs to travel with infants. During the day, she earns her stripes as an entrepreneur, operating both a public relations consultancy as well as a targeted theme gift basket business, Period Packs, which celebrates a young girl's foray into womanhood.

Michele Gorham -- Michele is the wife of a Methuen firefighter and mother of two little girls. As the owner of Cookie Central, she is an avid supporter of Share Our Strength and a community leader for MerchantCircle. 

Darcy Rubino -- Darcy is a mom to three kids, ages 5, 7 and 15. She has lived in North Andover for 10 years with her husband, Mike. She is an active volunteer in the community and is co-chair of North Andover Parents Advisory Council for Children with Special Needs (NAPAC).

Diane Kiladis -- Diane is a local mom of two kids and runs the newspaper at Franklin Elementary School, the Franklin Flyer.


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