Model Commentary

        The conflict between law and ethics is a timeless controversy that can be seen in modern life and in literature. In our time, in the ongoing “War on Terror,” the death of bin Laden can be seen similarly to the death of Antigone’s brother, Polyneices. Both Polyneices and bin Laden are  enemy combatants killed in the field, whose deaths create controversy not only with the law, but also as to how they will be buried. Unlike Antigone, who takes matters into her own hands and goes against the law, the US attempts to deal with bin Laden’s death in both an ethical and legal way, which I believe yields the best results that helps to appease most people worldwide. 

In Antigone, the law issued by Creon is very clear: “No one shall bury him, no one mourn for him / . . . and the penalty-- / Stoning to death in the public square” (20-25). Antigone, being true to her ethical beliefs went against the law and decided to honor her brother and give him a proper burial in defiance of Creon and his rule. The issues of law surrounding the death of bin Laden are slightly different than the ones experienced in Antigone and are much more complex. After the raid that resulted in killing bin Laden, many people were questioning whether or not the US followed international laws appropriately. Under law enforcement standards, a country can use lethal force only if it is strictly necessary to prevent the loss of other lives or to prevent the escape of someone you are seeking to arrest (Amies). Since the raid was in the context of a firefight, the SEALs had no way of knowing whether or not bin Laden was armed, or if he had explosive devices hidden on his person (Amies). I agree that the US acted in accordance with the law and did the right thing by killing him, a point that needs emphasizing since there are critics who believe that bin Laden should of been captured and tried in court. If the US would have arrested and tried bin Laden, a new set of issues would have been raised that might have the potential of enraging other terrorists from around the world. 

After bin Laden’s death, it was revealed that he received a burial at sea that included some traditional Islamic procedures. In a statement made by President Barack Obama, he explained, “the remains had been handled in accordance with Islamic custom, which requires speedy burial, and the Pentagon later said the body was placed into the waters . . . after adhering to traditional Islamic procedures -- including washing the corpse . . .” (Hendawi). I’m of two minds about the US’s actions. On the one hand, I agree that bin Laden should have a proper burial because it is the humane and ethical way to handle the situation, which also shows sensitivity to bin Laden’s cultural traditions. On the other hand, I’m not sure if bin Laden should even receive a proper burial since he committed such horrible crimes against humanity. However, if bin Laden didn’t receive some sort of burial, this could have the potential to enrage many people around the world. Perhaps the US learned a lesson from Antigone and realized that even if an enemy defies you, that person should still be respected in death. If Polyneices would have received a proper burial, Antigone would have been complacent and would not have had to act out against Creon.

Many of the characters in Antigone are unwavering in their beliefs and unwilling to compromise, usually to their own detriment. Both Antigone and Creon are headstrong and are unable to see each other’s points of view. Alternatively, I believe the course of action taken in the death and burial of Bin Laden resulted in the best outcome for the world. Even when faced with the difficult situation of killing an enemy combatant, the US did its best to appease both international and ethical laws. 

Red: Claim

Blue: Evidence / Quotes

Green: Commentary