[vdubs]

They say He was buried at sea so that there would be no grave site for others to make a shrine. (burial with 24 hours of death is a Muslim requirement)

have you see the pictures? do you think they are photoshopped??

Warning: Link is GRAPHIC and disturbing... Although obviously photoshopped in my eyes

http://www.tmz.com/2011/05/02/osama-bin ... raud-hoax/

[English Bob]

My bro retweeted this quote which was tweeted by the band Sonic Youth:

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." - Martin Luther King Jr

I liked it so much that I retweeted it myself. I got a petulant, self-righteous reply from an American bloke I know via another forum - ignoring the fact that a) Sonic Youth are themselves American and b) no other Americans I know on twitter have felt the need to spout hateful racist rubbish like he'd been doing all day. He's unfollowed me now, thankfully. I don't expect everyone I know to agree with my opinions by any stretch of the imagination, I like a bit of lively debate, but I'm a pacifist and I've never tried to hide it, anyone who doesn't like that shouldn't be following me!

That reminded me of this attitude from certain Americans when the Japanese earthquake/tsunami happened: http://imageshack.us/f/40/godblessamerica.jpg/

[Johnny 1989]

Yes, that is the reason they buried him at sea. They did it so quickly to keep with Islamic traditions (apparently they like to to it all within 24 hours of death.)

Clearly there will be conspiracy theories - particularly in a country where there are still people (even prominent businessmen) who think their president was born in Kenya - but I think the information given is enough to satisfy most people that he is dead; and yes, capture would possibly have been preferable (if unlikely) from some perspectives, but from others, killing on the spot makes quite a bit more sense... for example, no one can make any kidnappings or bomb anywhere to try and bargain with the authorities; no one can try and break him out; no one can try and get in and kill him themselves. Whilst I am vehemently opposed to the death penalty, I think in certain situations killing someone on the spot can be the only option you have - for example in a gun fight whilst trying to apprehend someone. I also think it was always extremely likely - if not absolutely inevitable - that that would have been the case with someone like bin Laden.

Anyway, I am not sad at all, but I do think that dancing in the streets about it is lowering yourself to the level of others and that is never a good thing.

My bro retweeted this quote which was tweeted by the band Sonic Youth:

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." - Martin Luther King Jr

I liked it so much that I retweeted it myself. I got a petulant, self-righteous reply from an American bloke I know via another forum - ignoring the fact that a) Sonic Youth are themselves American and b) no other Americans I know on twitter have felt the need to spout hateful racist rubbish like he'd been doing all day. He's unfollowed me now, thankfully. I don't expect everyone I know to agree with my opinions by any stretch of the imagination, I like a bit of lively debate, but I'm a pacifist and I've never tried to hide it, anyone who doesn't like that shouldn't be following me!

I agree with you both, although I put the smilie next to my comment, in truth I'm just glad they tracked the * down, I haven't been cheering in the streets at all, I'm just glad the menace has now gone, however whether or not his death is a "good thing" remains to be seen.

As for the American who was arguing with you Nic, to be honest the internet has been a real eye opener, especially in the last 12-16 months, you really don't realise how venomously nasty some wankers can be until you read some comments on certain forums/twitter, although I don't agree with web sensorship, per se, I do wish some of these nasty arseholes would just * off.

[Nicola_Red]

Yeah, when I looked more closely at that guy's twitter feed last nite he'd actually sent the same reply that he sent to me to Sonic Youth, the originators of the Martin LK Jr quote, saying something like "well I guess you had to be there" (at 9/11). In fact Sonic Youth are from NYC, he's from a hick town in Ohio - had he bothered to check that before tweeting them, I wonder? It just came across to me that he felt like he's more entitled to his feelings about Bin Laden's death than anyone else.

[Bas]

Yeah, when I looked more closely at that guy's twitter feed last nite he'd actually sent the same reply that he sent to me to Sonic Youth, the originators of the Martin LK Jr quote, saying something like "well I guess you had to be there" (at 9/11). In fact Sonic Youth are from NYC, he's from a hick town in Ohio - had he bothered to check that before tweeting them, I wonder? It just came across to me that he felt like he's more entitled to his feelings about Bin Laden's death than anyone else.

As someone who has been at the pointy end of terrorism & lost some friends (though thankfully not family) at the hands of terrorists, though of the Irish rather than the Islamic tinged variety, i would not begrudge anyone their rejoicing at the demise of this creature. Of course some people can rise above such base things & thats fine , its their way of dealing with the situation.
If the Americans rejoice at the death of the leader of their current greatest threat thats fine by me.
We British seem to have developed the more 'civilised' option of cravenly surrendering to terrorism & then rewarding them with cash &/or government office.
But as long as the latte drinkers of Islington & Camden Town can keep their glow of self satisfaction & still sneer at the lower ''uninformed' orders, well thats the main thing, isn't it?

[Nicola_Red]

As someone who has been at the pointy end of terrorism & lost some friends (though thankfully not family) at the hands of terrorists, though of the Irish rather than the Islamic tinged variety, i would not begrudge anyone their rejoicing at the demise of this creature. Of course some people can rise above such base things & thats fine , its their way of dealing with the situation.
If the Americans rejoice at the death of the leader of their current greatest threat thats fine by me.
We British seem to have developed the more 'civilised' option of cravenly surrendering to terrorism & then rewarding them with cash &/or government office.
But as long as the latte drinkers of Islington & Camden Town can keep their glow of self satisfaction & still sneer at the lower ''uninformed' orders, well thats the main thing, isn't it?

I understand what you're saying and I don't begrudge my former American friend his feelings - all I ask is that people remain respectful of others' feelings too. As I mentioned, the MLK Jr quote was originally tweeted by a band who were formed and live in NYC - they are not 'latte drinkers of Islington & Camden Town' and neither am I! I'm just a pacifist (and vegan) who finds rejoicing in any death nasty, and not something I wanna read in my twitter feed.

I also appreciate the point about this country and I definitely don't think that we handle it better - I don't even know what I think a 'better' way of dealing with someone like OBL would be. I'm not even saying necessarily that there was any other option than killing him. But I remain convinced that I won't ever celebrate a death.

[Bas]

As someone who has been at the pointy end of terrorism & lost some friends (though thankfully not family) at the hands of terrorists, though of the Irish rather than the Islamic tinged variety, i would not begrudge anyone their rejoicing at the demise of this creature. Of course some people can rise above such base things & thats fine , its their way of dealing with the situation.
If the Americans rejoice at the death of the leader of their current greatest threat thats fine by me.
We British seem to have developed the more 'civilised' option of cravenly surrendering to terrorism & then rewarding them with cash &/or government office.
But as long as the latte drinkers of Islington & Camden Town can keep their glow of self satisfaction & still sneer at the lower ''uninformed' orders, well thats the main thing, isn't it?

I understand what you're saying and I don't begrudge my former American friend his feelings - all I ask is that people remain respectful of others' feelings too. As I mentioned, the MLK Jr quote was originally tweeted by a band who were formed and live in NYC - they are not 'latte drinkers of Islington & Camden Town' and neither am I! I'm just a pacifist (and vegan) who finds rejoicing in any death nasty, and not something I wanna read in my twitter feed.

I also appreciate the point about this country and I definitely don't think that we handle it better - I don't even know what I think a 'better' way of dealing with someone like OBL would be. I'm not even saying necessarily that there was any other option than killing him. But I remain convinced that I won't ever celebrate a death.

Fair enough. And thanks for the considered & reasoned reply. I wouldn't have blamed you if you got a bit stroppy. And though i still don't entirely agree with you , you make some good points & i understand your point of view a bit more.
That's the last i'll remark on his death & leave him to his well deserved watery tomb.

Now, who's next?

That Jimmy Savile is looking a bit peaky, eh?

[Yudster]

Is he still alive? He must be ancient.

[MK Chris]

Thatcher? She can't have long left *crosses fingers*

[Yudster]

I must admit when that happy day comes I will have trouble restraining myself. On such a momentous occasion, let joy be unconfined I say! And no, that doesn't mean that Joy has to go out topless. Although she can if she wants, its a party!

[SAV1OUR]

Kick Murdoch in with her, double celebration.

[MK Chris]

Unfortunately, Murdochs minions Murdoch Jr and Wade will be coming in to take over when that happens and not much will change, I don't think.

[MK Chris]

Going back to bin Laden, a large part of Question Time was dedicated to the story last night and I pretty much agreed with everything Paddy Ashdown said and nothing Douglas Murray said... but I suppose that was to be expected.

[Boboff]

Campden is a dump, full of canals and dirty arse tat stalls, Cappachino, in Campden, I find that to be distinctly dubious.

Or has it changed since I last visited in 1992?

[Ilovematt]

R I P Seve Ballesteros such sad news of the greatest golfer x

[McGuinness-89]

Oh no! Absolute legend.

[Yudster]

Ah, Seve had been ill for a long while hadn't he? He almost died a couple of years ago. Great golfer, RIP. Oh no.

[dreamer1978]

It's sad to hear about the death of Seve. He is a true gentleman of the wonderful game of golf. When i met him in the corporate hospitality area at the Open in St Andrews in the late 90s he was really nice to me. He will be missed by the whole of the PGA. Sad to see him being taken so young by a horrible brain tumor.

[Johnny 1989]

RIP Seve, another person taken from us this year at too young an age

[Ilovematt]

R I P John Walker one half of the Walker brothers.

(1960 group for those youngsters )

[Yudster]

Oh no - Wouter Weylandt, Belgian cyclist, has been killed in a crash at the Giro D'Italia. Awful.

[Zoot]

R I P John Walker one half of the Walker brothers.

(1960 group for those youngsters )

Well, the sun ain't gonna shine anymore...

[Latina]

When i met him in the corporate hospitality area at the Open in St Andrews in the late 90s he was really nice to me.

I was lucky enough to meet him too (also in St Andrews, when he and Monty picked up honorary degrees from the university). He was so lovely. I wasn't very familiar with him back then compared to Monty, to be honest, but my gran was practically swooning! And I paid a lot more attention to his golfing afterwards. Such a shame, RIP.

[Yudster]

Oh no - Kenyan distance runner Sammy Wanjiru, previous winner of the London Marathon and Olympic champion has died after "falling" from a balcony. Reports suggest he jumped, having been found by his wife with another woman. He's had a few troubles over the last year or so from what I've heard, sounds like he was a troubled man at the moment, but still - oh no.

[Bas]

For those of us of a certain vintage, Suzanne Mizzi, Page 3 fixture of the early 90s has died at 43 of cancer.
She's one of the reasons i have to wear glasses now.