WWAD?

I never thought I'd see the day when Americans would celebrate like barbarians and toss aside all remnants of a civilized, cultural existence. I would never have been convinced that people with whom I work and interact would glorify killing. But it has happened and I've had to endure the dumbing down of an entire nation of people.

The only thing missing from yesterday's "party" over the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a nationally televised bouncing ball sing-a-long to Queen's "We are the Champions" and a unanimous, public beating of the chests accompanied by the Tarzan yell.

All I can say in my utter shock and dismay at the horrendous reaction by Americans to one man's death is "What does this behavior teach your children about America?" Perhaps we should pause to consider "WWAD?"

We don't have to ask "What would Jesus do?" If the Bible is to be believed, we already know that Jesus was a pacifist. He was certainly not a man of vengeance and would just as certainly have condemned the behavior exhibited by so many Americans yesterday. Like a father with a child who had just jumped into a playground brawl for no reason, Jesus would say, "I'm so disappointed in the choices you've made" or "This is not where your heart should find gladness."

But "WWAD?" This is the more relevant question. What would Abe do? Considered, by many, our finest President, Abraham Lincoln was mocked, ridiculed and despised during his reign as this nation's leader. No one let up on him. No one gave him a break or cut him some slack. This country was in the worst condition it had known in its rather young life. Torn in half with men dying by the thousands week after week, Lincoln pressed on to do what was right. He wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. But he didn't just write it, he enacted it. As hated as he was and with essentially no support Honest Abe did what was right. He freed the slaves. Men continued to die by the thousands every week and the country continued on with its divisiveness but still the Emancipation Proclamation was law.

What does Lincoln and the civil war and the Emancipation Proclamation have to do with the death and reaction to the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi?

Everything.

He stood alone to do what was right. We have stood together to do what is wrong. Whereas Lincoln was a man of great character, we are country of rogues. His legacy is legend among those who came after him. Our legacy, based alone on yesterday's juvenile and reprehensible behavior, will be legend among our children and their children. I have no doubt the chapter heading describing this day in our history will be,
"The Day Americans Shamed Those Who Came After."