Celebrating the Immoral: "American Justice and Divine Mercy: Thoughts on Osama bin Laden's Death"

On September 11, 2001, America’s world stopped turning. A war against those who had attacked us was declared and we swore to bring the one behind the attacks down. Over three years ago, SEAL Team 6, a team of elite American Special Operatives, fulfilled that promise and the world celebrated. Many Americans’ claimed that “justice has been done.” (111) Patrick Clark, a Catholic blogger, responded to the “outpouring of “solidarity” among American[s],” (112) in celebration of this death. While using a lens of Catholicism, Clark is able to question whether or not true justice, as taught by Christ, was done. Through artful use of rhetorical questions, drawing unlikely parallels, and bringing coincidences to light, Clark creates a successful, thought provoking argument in regards to bin Laden’s death and Christian Americans’ reaction. Clark efficiently convinces a united audience that although we may “yearn to celebrate his death,” (113) this jubilation would be highly immoral, as the “expression of forgiveness [in regards to the execution of Osama]” (112) is disconnected from “divine mercy proclaimed by Jesus to Saint Faustina,” the saint associated with Divine Mercy Sunday.

Clark poses thought provoking questions, such as whether or not “it [is] appropriate to feel . . . a little uncomfortable with” (111) calling Osama bin Laden’s execution a just action, to begin the overarching process of reflection in the audience’s mind. Clark is able to tie questions like this throughout his blog post, asking the audience to do a double take on whose justice had been done. Through this, he is able to evoke strong emotional ties to traditional Catholics masses, where priest often ask similar questions. These range from the appropriateness of celebrating the “death of the unjust,” (112)  to how the “utter absence of any public expression . . . of forgiveness for crimes. . . [Should] bother us as Christians.” (112) Clark uses his audience’s primarily Catholic beliefs, alluding to messages brought  to Saint Faustina and teachings of Augustine, to tug at the heartstrings of his audience, making them question their own morality in the wake of Osama’s death.

Moreover, he questions whether or not the “blood of the slain . . .  find[s] its answer in the blood that pours from Christ’s side.” (112) Clark asks the readers whether or not their belief in the redeeming power of the crucifixion was truly fulfilled on Divine Mercy Sunday, prompting their answer in a way that is in line with the thesis of his blog post. As he asks this question, Clark is able to convince the audience using both logic and emotions that the morality of the “outpouring of solidarity . . . in the wake of bin Laden’s death” (112) is incongruous with the “divine justice and mercy” (112) that was achieved through Christ’s sacrifice. Through underlying questions, Clark is able to call American’s to repentance, stating that their belief in Christ’s mercy is not apparent by their acts of elation.

Patrick Clark not only calls readers to repentance through rhetorical questions, but also through using unlikely parallels. First, Clark embellishes similarities between bin Laden and Christ’s death in order to make the reader uncomfortable with their acts of celebration. Both deaths were called by many as “an act of divine mercy,” yet Clark emphasizes the parallels by associating “the bullet-hole in bin Laden’s head with the hole in Jesus’ side. . .” The gross association unseats the audience, by comparing someone so vile with the Christian ideal of perfection. Both deaths, while vastly different in purpose, could be considered the same, as American Christians celebrated both as an act of divine mercy. Through this seemingly fallacious argument, Clark is able to convince the audience that death of this terrorist was not an act of mercy or justice in traditional Christian sense of the word.

Clark also argues that our jubilation, with “waving our flags and honking our horns. . .” should not be compatible with “the Jubilate Deo of Psalm 100.” (112) Psalms 100, in the Catholic cannon of scripture, is a celebratory psalm, worshiping and praising God for his mercies. American’s reaction to Osama’s death, with “waving our flags and honking our horns,” (112), is comparable in Clark’s eyes, and through rhetorical questions, Clark is able to invoke the harsh reality; Americans’ praised bin Laden’s executioners in similitude of praising God. He argues that we “commended [our] enemy . . . to the Navy SEALS,” (113) and in turn, praised them for this act of divine mercy and misplaced their trust in brute force, rather than Christ like love.  Clark creates a paradox in the readers’ minds by drawing this parallel between both celebrated saviors. He uses the allusions in a way reminiscent of the Savior’s parables, and through paralleling two opposites, initiates a self-reflective thought process in which the audience is convinced that the “acts of “justice” . . . carried out” were “unjust, unnecessary. . . [and] even blasphemous,” (112) especially considering our jubilation. In calling the reaction blasphemous, Clark evokes a feeling of guilt, creating a strong argument towards the lack of compassion and justice in this action. Through paralleling the two acts of celebration, Clark effectively criticizes the lack of thought given in celebration towards Osama bin Laden’s death.

While parallels between Christ and Osama, and SEAL Team 6 and God, are woven throughout Clark’s blog post, he does not fail to address the audience in regards to how the response should have gone. In referencing John Paul II’s forgiveness towards a hit man, Clark criticizes American’s need for the death of a terrorist to gain justice, arguing that instead, we should have responded the way the late Pope did, “embrac[ing] and forg[iving] the enemy that sought to take his life. . .” (113). Here, he directly addresses his primarily Catholic audience. John Paul II was beloved by the majority of Catholics. As with Mormons and the Prophet, Catholics often look to the Pope for ideals on how to live and obtain true happiness. By drawing the stark contrast between the two reactions to an enemy, Patrick Clark reprimands the audience, communicating a failure of the model of holiness that was honored on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Divine Mercy Sunday is an often repeated date in Clark’s post. This Sunday is one held in high regards by Catholics, as it not only follows Easter Sunday, but is also the day for true forgiveness and benevolence.  The repetition is picked up by the reader and Patrick Clark does not fail to use this to his advantage. Coincidentally, this Sunday was also the day that Osama was killed. In recognizing this unintended occurrence, Clark points out the failure of Christian mercy, as this day was for true compassion, but was also set aside for the beatification of John Paul II. This coincidence is emphasized several times throughout the paper, especially highlighting his teaching of “total gratuity, forgiveness, and reconciliation.” Clark is able to persuade the audience that contrary to popular belief, the “justice [that] has been done” (111) is not in line with what Pope John Paul II taught, as well with the audience’s theology. 

May 2, 2011 was not only a day of solidarity among Catholics worldwide—the day Pope John Paul II was beatified--was also a day of unanimous celebration among Americans, for the enemy of the country was served justice. Patrick Clark is able to argue through communicating coincidences, exaggerated parallels, and using rhetorical questions to appeal to the traditional Christian audience, that bin Laden’s death is not in line with the doctrine of Christ’s mercy nor his sacrifice to satisfy the needs of justice. Throughout his argument, Clark is able to communicate the need for Christian justice, quoting Pope John Paul II that “one’s neighbor must be loved, even if an enemy, with the same love with which the Lord loves him.” (113) While “Osama bin Laden was a murderer and a criminal,” (113) Clark reminds his audience that while “celebrating his death,” (113) would tempting, such actions go against the very “justice and mercy of our Lord.” (113)

Bibliography

 Clark, Patrick. "American Justice and Divine Mercy: Thoughts on Osama bin Laden's Death." BYU. Perspectves on Religion in America. Provo, UT: BYU Academic Publishing, 2011. 111-113. Textbook.

Rhetorical Analysis

Sarah Whitworth

Kaleigh Spooner

Writing 150

October 13, 2014

Questions, Parallels, and Coincidence in “American Justice and Divine Mercy: Thoughts on Osama Bin Laden’s Death”

On September 11, 2001, the American world stopped turning. A war against those who had attacked us was declared and we swore to bring the one behind these attacks down. Over three years ago, Seal Team 6 fulfilled that promise and the world celebrated. I remember that day well; most Americans do. However, Patrick Clark questions the justice of his education. Through artfully using rhetorical questions, drawing unlikely parallels, and bringing coincidences to light, Clark creates a successful, thought provoking argument in regards to Bin Laden’s death.

Clark begins his article with rhetorical questions and weaves them throughout the remainder of his piece. These questions range from the appropriateness of celebrating the death to how the “utter absence of any public expression . . . of forgiveness for crimes. . .bother us as Christians?” Clark uses his audience’s Christian beliefs to enable deeper thought, requiring us question our own morality. Clark’s inquiries artfully weave ethos and logos together.

Next, the use of unlikely parallels evokes the reader’s morality. Clark parallels Bin Laden’s death with Christ’s, as many called both “an act of divine mercy.” He ties rhetorical questions into his parallels by questioning whether or not we can “associate the bullet-hole in bin Laden’s head with the hole in Jesus’ side . . . ?” By drawing a parallel between two extremes, Clark achieves his purpose of convincing the audience that bin Laden’s death was not an act of mercy or justice in the Christian sense of the word. Moreover, he argues whether or not our celebration with “waving our flags and honking our horns. . .” should be compatible with “the Jubilate Deo of Psalm 100?” Psalms 100 is a celebratory psalm, praising God and calling for worship. By comparing the celebrations, Clark invokes a harsh reality; Americans celebrated a death in a similar way of celebrating God.  

In addition to drawing simple parallels between Christ and Osama, Clark aslo draws parallels between American’s and Pope John Paul II. While one was obtaining justice through the death of a terrorist, the late Pope gained justice though he “. . . knew what it felt like to take an assassin’s bullet.”

Finally, Clark strengthens his argument with unlikely coincidences. The death of bin laden was “carried out on Divine Mercy Sunday . . . the same Divine Mercy Sunday set aside for the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II . . .?” This coincidence is strengthened by tying in the Pope’s quote on solidarity: “. . . One’s neighbor must be loved, even if an enemy, with the same love with which the Lord loves him. . .” This coincidence does not go unnoticed, as it is woven through the paper and tied in with his use of rhetorical questions, inquiring about the “. . .expression of forgiveness. . .” and “commended [the enemy]. . . to the Navy SEALS” on a day set aside as “a universal commemoration of divine mercy.” By drawing these coincidences, Clark effectively convinces the audience that this act did not coincide with the Christian ideology of mercy and justice.

Through communicating coincidences, exaggerated parallels, and using rhetorical questions to weave everything together, Clark effectively convinces the audience the act of Osama bin Laden’s death was not in line with Christ’s doctrine of mercy nor his sacrifice to satisfy the needs of justice. Patrick Clark makes the audience believe that it may be tempting to “celebrate his death” yet cannot, as the “execution of Christ” stops such a celebration dead in its tracks.

 

Thesis Proposal: Questions, Parallels and Coincidence in “American Justice and Divine Mercy: Thoughts on Osama Bin Laden’s Death”

Thesis: By artfully using rhetorical questions, drawing unlikely parallels, and bringing coincidences to light, Patrick Clark creates a thought provoking argument in regards Osama Bin Laden’s death.

1)      Clark’s article is littered with rhetorical questions ranging from “whose justice exactly?” to “Shouldn’t this [lack of forgiveness] bother us as Christians?” Clark’s questions pull not only from basic ethics, but also from Catholic and general Christian belief.  Clark occasionally begs the question, implying that his view of mercy and justice is correct. Nevertheless, the use of such devices gives credibility, provoking the audience to think deeper than just on the death of Osama Bin Laden.

2)      Clark also uses unlike parallels between Christ’s and Bin Laden’s death in order to evoke regret in the audience’s mind. He intertwines his parallels with beautiful questions, causing the audience to rethink the celebration of Bin Laden’s death, answering our questions of justice with the “blood that flows from Christ’s side.”

3)      Besides parallels, Clark also brings up several coincidences, specifically the fact that Bin Laden was killed on Divine Mercy Sunday, that John Paul II spoke about loving the enemy, and that while we buried Bin Laden, it was in a way of corporal justice.