Just like millions of other Americans,

I felt a sense of accomplishment, pride and success when I learned of Usama bin Laden's death. My own feelings were called into question, however, as I read numerous articles and opinions criticizing the way that Americans have "celebrated" his death. NPR called the celebrations "a sense of false elation," while the Huffington Post deemed the portrayed feelings "neither appropriate nor advisable." An article from The Atlantic picked apart the "narrative" of bin Laden's death. Criticism has hit the web from all directions.

I've thought a lot about the concepts suggested by the "critics," and while I understand where they're coming from, my opinion does differ from theirs. Here's the part where I tell you why.

When I first learned of bin Laden's death, my thoughts were immediately directed to the men and women in uniform who have served our country faithfully and with unwavering dedication. I felt a sense of great pride regarding their power and effectiveness in handling difficult war-time decisions, such as the discovery and elimination of Usama bin Laden. I think it is so easy to forget how much we are indebted to them. It's a common thing, especially in modern times as we are surrounded by it, to criticize war and violence, but the unfortunate reality of our world is that to some extent, it is necessary. I believe it's much easier to criticize war than accept that fact that war is, and will likely forever will be, a part of our lives. Should violent methods be used over peaceful ones to solve international and domestic conflicts? No. Absolutely not. No one who is to any extent humane should endorse unnecessary war and violence by any means. But anyone who is practical must recognize that there are people in our world today (ie: Usama bin Laden) who do promote that kind of behavior.

To me, bin Laden's death is not an exemplar of an American endorsement of violence like many of the "critics" have suggested, but rather a symbol of the fact that America does not and will not tolerate unnecessary violence. Is America a perfect example of this concept? No. Of course it isn't. But Usama bin Laden was an evil man who promoted the slaughter of Western culture and the freedoms it has fought with great sacrifice to secure. His death, nearly ten years after 9/11, has reminded the world that we will not stand for that. Ten years later, we still will not stand for it.

By no means am I suggesting that this is the end, so I do not feel that my sense of joy is a "false elation" as NPR would suggest. I understand entirely that Usama bin Laden was merely one man, one terrorist, in a world of thousands of people with a similar psyche. But I think is naive to deny that his death marks a significant milestone in the war on terror and, like this article suggests, in the lives of the Millennial Generation. His elimination screams, "We're still here, we're still fighting, and we will not forget what you did."

Additionally, I do not feel that my opinion on bin Laden's death contradicts the philosophies of my personal religious beliefs as a Christian. No, I am not promoting death. But I am promoting the ending of a life that was devoted to the annihilation of everything America (and all of Western culture) stands for. I think that my pride for this country and all that it has fought for, that millions have given their lives for, is something worth celebrating.

So, maybe I am celebrating the death of an evil man who mercilessly slaughtered not just innocent people, but the progressive ideals of freedom and independence. But if that's the case, then I'm proud to celebrate it, and even more proud to call myself American.