Five Towners say justice was done

People in the Five Towns reacted to the news of Osama bin Laden’s death with talk of justice being served, a renewed pride in the military and the need to remain alert to further acts of terrorism.

“This country, our country, sent a message representing the people for justice to somebody who was a murderer, who had no regard or respect for human life,” said Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, a Democrat from Long Beach. “He murdered almost 3,000 people in one incident and many others throughout the world. I think God punished him. We had justice, and he is no longer alive.”

For Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum of Temple Israel, a former military chaplain who served as a police chaplain for several weeks at ground zero after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, bin Laden’s death was the result Americans needed. “It speaks of justice,” said Rosenbaum, adding that he will never forget the families he met or the emergency responders who worked at the World Trade Center site. “For the grieving families, it is the fulfillment of the promise made to them and the American people that the perpetrator of this evil, heinous and murderous act would be brought to justice.

“The surgical precision and effectiveness with which this was conducted is a personal source of pride and should instill a renewed sense of our confidence, pride and appreciation in our military,” Rosenbaum added.

Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department Chief Joseph Sperber said that the events of Sept. 11, which bin Laden set in motion, affected different people in different ways, and his death could bring some closure to those who endured the loss of loved ones. “It brings some peace to the people who suffered during that horrible time in our country’s history,” Sperber said. “It is something positive out of something so negative.”

Woodmere native Alan B. Katz, who has written and spoken on Middle East affairs, noted the significance of bin Laden’s death as a setback for terrorism given his ability to obtain weapons and to recruit and train other terrorists. “Al Qaeda will continue to be a real threat because they will not let his death at the hands of America go without a strong response,” Katz said. “Revenge has a special place in the Arab culture. There will, of course, arise others to take their place, but in terms of capability, not many are in a position to take over where bin Laden left off.”

At the time of the attacks, Melissa Miller, a Five Towns resident and president of Nassau Community College’s Jewish Club, was in elementary school. Her perspective is that justice was served. “We feel the world is a much better and safer place,” Miller said. We believe in God, and [bin Laden’s death] happened at exactly the time it was supposed to.”

Cedarhurst resident Rick Levine, thought of bin Laden as “the bully who stole your lunch money and punched you in the gut,”

U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat from Mineola, said bin Laden’s death was “monumental news” for Long Islanders who lost loves ones on Sept. 11, though nothing would alleviate their losses. “Osama bin Laden’s death is a development that we can only hope will have a positive effect on the safety of our troops and citizens,” McCarthy said. “Today is a good day, but we must continue to be vigilant.”