Sweet justice: Americans rejoice Osama's death

From impromptu outbursts of the Star Spangled Banner to exuberant flag waving, Americans are rejoicing the death of the World’s Most Wanted Man. After US President Barack Obama made an official announcement at about 11:30pm ET Sunday tonight that Osama Bin Laden had been killed following a “targeted operation” by the United States and that authorities are in possession of his body, crowds gathered outside the White House to jubilantly cheer and chant “ Yes We Did!” and “USA! USA!” [caption id=“attachment_3608” align=“alignleft” width=“320” caption=“Cheerful citizens: Revelers gather at the fence on the north side of the White House, pose for photographs, chant “USA! USA!”. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images”]  [/caption] Meanwhile, in New York, firefighters convened in Times Square to celebrate, and thousands—including family members who lost loved ones during the attacks— gathered at Ground Zero to sing the National Anthem. Triumphant Tweets circulated online: @ AdamWeinstein: I tell my wife one of OBL’s sons was killed w/him. Her response: “Oh well. He shoulda ducked.”  #FuckYeah @lastxkiss‎ 2974 americans were killed in the_world trade center_ attack. That’s 2974 families that feel justice has been served. This is beautiful. For some Americans, the death of Osama Bin Laden, the so-called “ face of terrorism” is clearly cathartic and a symbol of justice. In a statement issued by Sen. John McCain, the Republican from Arizona, he said: “I am overjoyed that we finally got the world’s top terrorist. The world is a better and more just place now that Osama bin Laden is no longer in it. I hope the families of the victims of the September 11th attacks will sleep easier tonight and every night hence knowing that justice has been done.” President Obama has also characterized the developments similarly. In his remarks on Sunday night, he said he had authorized action last week to “get Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice,” which ultimately resulted in Bin Laden’s death following a firefight by U.S. Navy SEALS at his million-dollar mansion in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The death of the mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks is clearly a significant turning point in American’s so-called War on Terror—at least symbolically for Americans. It’s a weight lifted from the collective national psyche, and an assurance of the country’s continued global might. And, for some, it may offer the sweet taste of revenge. But for some survivors, the pain and loss lingers. As one 9/11 survivor, Harry Waizer, told The New York Times: “If this means there is one less death in the future, then I’m glad for that. But I just can’t find it in me to be glad one more person is dead, even if it is Osama bin Laden. … You know, the dead are still dead. So in that sense, there is no such thing as closure.” For Arab Americans who have sometimes felt like the unwarranted targets of anti-al Qaeda sentiment in the U.S., there also seems to be some hope—or at least some curiosity—about whether these developments will lead to increasingly nuanced discussions about Islam and American foreign policy: As @ ArabVoicesSpeak put it: “ok now that Osama is dead, can we get our  #Islam back  #OBL.”