Published: May 5, 2011

As the school year draws to an end and finals begin tightening their grip on our lives, recent events have distracted Fordham students from our studies. The death of Osama bin Laden, a symbolic victory in our fight against terrorism, has left many feeling overwhelmingly patriotic, with crowds of people gathering at Ground Zero to cheer the announcement.

We got the news through Facebook and Twitter, then confirmed it through major news websites and television. It was a shock to those for whom Bin Laden had been the face of terrorism for nearly a decade as the mastermind behind the tragic events on 9/11.

Bin Laden’s death offers a sense of relief for many Americans, especially those who experienced first hand the results of his extremism. His death caused some to remember the loved ones they lost in the World Trade Center attacks. Across the country, families gathered to honor those heroes who died due to the elaborate orchestration of a merciless killer.

For some, the death was seen as a win for the American people. The government had finally followed through with a goal they set 10 years prior. This was a sign to the world that America still had the power to protect her people.

While it may be easy to get caught up in the moment—to belt out the national anthem while waving our American flags—we must remember that bin Laden’s death does not mean the end of terrorism. Nor does it mean that our country is safe from future attacks. As Professor DeLuca noted in Christina Frasca’s article on page one, bin Laden’s death helps our national security, but it doesn’t guarantee that Al-Qaeda will dissolve. While we can commend the diligent efforts of our troops overseas, the death of one man doesn’t diminish the severity of the wars we are in or the countless innocent lives that have been lost in our struggle to counter terrorism. Feeling a sense of relief from bin Laden’s death is warranted—this victory is one we have anxiously sought for nearly a decade. But to exuberantly rejoice in the death of an individual is unwarranted, no matter how vile he was.

Terrorism will still be a major threat to our nation and while this momentous occasion gives us hope that it will one day disappear, the reality remains that Al-Qaeda still exists despite the absence of its charismatic leader. While this recent milestone may inspire hope, we’re still at war. American soldiers are still fighting and dying. Amid our patriotism, we must be aware of the many challenges that still lie ahead.