On the night of May 1, 2011, news broadcasts across the world presented information regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden. It is assumed that Bin Laden was the culprit to orchestrating the 9-11 attacks that occurred against the United States in 2001. Following the terrorist attacks the U.S. became engaged in a War on Terror in Afghanistan. After 10 years of war, U.S. forces finally found and killed the mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks. Upon releasing the news of Bin Laden's death, Americans raved, rioted and displayed their nationalism like none other. However as the nation was so proud and thankful for the death of Bin Laden; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall viewed this incident differently than the rest of America. Mendenhall's use of Twitter.com social networking website provided the foundation for the general public to view Mendenhall's thoughts regarding the killing of Bin Laden. A series of Mendenhall's tweets read as follows:
“What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people hate a man they never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side.”
“I’m not convinced he was even behind the attacks. We have really seen no evidence to prove it other than the government telling us.”
“I believe in God. I believe we are all his children. And I believe he is the one and only judge. Those who judge others will also be judged themselves.”
The tweets clearly display the opinion that Mendenhall feels is related to the Bin Laden killing and War on Terror. After publishing these tweets, Steeler's President Art Rooney II issued the statement, that he and the Steeler's organization were very proud of the U.S. military efforts. Rooney also said he would make it a point to sit down and discuss the controversial tweets in which Mendenhall presented on the Twitter website.
Mendenhall's tweets were radical and stirred up an immense amount of controversy not only in the sports world but in the eyes of Americans worldwide. In a time were loads of nationalism were being displayed, Rashard Mendenhall's opinion suggests there is no reason for such a strong sense of American Pride at this time...
As a Steeler's fan and proud American, I feel that Rashard Mendenhall is nothing more than a senseless fool.
While I don't doubt that he is a fool, I think the reaction to his tweets was blown a little out of proportion. I think I get what he was trying to say but he probably could have gone about it in a better way. Basically I think he was trying to say that Osama deserved his due process just like everyone else in the American judicial system. I think he just posted his comments at a highly emotional time and some people took them as anti-american
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