Joaquim Mohsen

Never celebrate death, not even that of your enemy.

Death comes for all, and with it, immense pain and suffering for many. We can acknowledge it as a fact of life, but that doesn’t take away its impact. I believe death is a part of a fallen world. There is nothing about it that should be celebrated, even when inflicted on someone who may “deserve” it.

Think of the most evil person you know. You most probably thought of Hitler, Stalin, Jeffrey Dahmer, or some vile person. We might agree that death is a fitting punishment for such people who commit horrific atrocities. I wouldn’t argue against that. And while we can affirm when justice is carried out in such a way, we should not celebrate the means by which it is carried out. We can find joy in the relief that evil is sedated, without finding joy in death itself.

Death is a reminder of an imperfect world. It is a reminder that we have strayed from the garden. It is a tragedy that we experience it. In the beginning, it was never intended to be this way. It is a tragedy that some humans live lives where death is the appropriate punishment for their deeds.

When we celebrate death, it is as if we are celebrating the fallen world. Death should be a time of reflection. A time to mourn its existence.