By Dennis Brown
The word spread quickly, aided by the Internet and teems of people tweeting: Osama Bin Laden is dead, shot and killed by Navy Seals.
CCSU junior Daniel Baker, 25, has been overseas more than once as a member of the United States military. Baker believes that this was a necessary death.
“It needed to be done,” said Baker. “The death of bin Laden speaks a lot for not only us soldiers and President Obama, but will help our country sleep easier at night.”
“My only regret is that I wasn’t the one to come face to face with the bastard,” said Baker, holding out his fist with anger.
Several Central students view the event as closure as they remember what took place on 9/11.
Freshman Austin Swan remembers the fear and confusion he felt on that day in 2001, he was just ten years old.
“I remember being at school and the teachers not being able to tell us anything. When I got home I saw the news reports and my mom wouldn’t say anything she was just staring at the TV,” Swan said. “I remember feeling extreme hatred for anyone who caused this to happen. I wanted justice for the thousands of American lives that were taken on that horrible day.”
Swan, now 19, was watching the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies game at the time the news broke that bin Laden was killed.
“We turned to the news channel to watch Obama’s speech. We all gave cheers and hugs,” Swan said.
21-year-old senior Andrew Coy looked back at 9/11 and the emotions he felt at that time.
“It was a tragic event that will never be forgotten,” said Coy, “I came home from school and saw everybody watching it on TV. It was chaos, crying and anger.”
Coy said he found out about the death of bin Laden when he saw everyone talking about it on Facebook, leading him to turn on the television and watch the news.
While some celebrated bin Laden’s death, others, such as 21-year-old junior Megan Kennedy, are afraid of what’s next.
“I am scared now that he is dead because Al-Qaeda is sure to retaliate,” said Kennedy.
President Barack Obama has decided against allowing the pictures of a dead Osama bin Laden to be shown to America, prompting a heated debate throughout the world.
“I think seeing pictures of him dead is just grotesque,” Kennedy argued. ”I’m afraid to think what some would do if they saw him dead.”
Kennedy has ties to the military: her older brother Patrick served in the Army and spent time overseas.
“I think it’s different having a loved one in the military,” said Kennedy. “Because I had a personal connection to the war as do those who lost friends and family in 9/11.”
Baker, the military veteran, agrees.
“It’s different knowing someone you love is in danger and that the one person who ordered all the killing is hiding like a coward,” Baker said. “When I think about all of those who were killed in the buildings and planes I am still angry. Senseless killing by heartless bastards.”
