Ozarks Residents Divided on Fanfare Surrounding Bin Laden’s Death

Most of us had seen the footage of thousands of Americans pouring down Pennsylvania Avenue in celebration of the death of the most wanted terrorist in the world. Despite all the fanfare, several people have voiced their mixed feelings about the celebrating bin Laden’s death. Local people in the Ozarks also have opened up as to how they feel about the news. KSMU’s Mike Donnelly talked to some local residents and has the report.

Throughout the years, there has been a great deal of open hostility toward Osama bin Laden and many in the Ozarks are, if nothing else, glad to see his reign of terror come to an end.Matt Cermak shared his take on the situation.“I think it’s a good thing. It’s something we’ve been dealing with for the last ten years. I think it gives the American people relief, it gives our politicians a relief, and I think it’s another step in the right direction for us to fighting terrorism,” he said.However, some like local residents like Maret Cheek had mixed feelings about the situation.“I think its justice for the U.S., considering what he has done and I disagree with the people that are standing in front of the White House cheering. I just don’t think that’s appropriate,” she said.Cermak, however, says he can understand where the cheers are coming from. “There’s a lot of people who were affected directly and indirectly from September 11th. For initial reactions like that, for some people I could see maybe getting bothered by it, but at the same time, that’s how people feel at this present time, and it’s just kind of the way it is,” he says. For KSMU News, I’m Mike Donnelly.