Osama Bin Laden, personal reflections, and beaded flag pins.

I am not the first, nor will I be the last to reiterate the news: Osama Bin Laden is dead.  While diligently studying for a biology exam, I took a quick facebook break only to discover the monumental news.  I went on to watch the live news feed on MSNBC and await president Obama's speech for over an hour.  Albeit a distraction, I am grateful to social media for alerting me to the event and enabling me to watch the news unfold.

A flag pin constructed of beads.

As American Conversations is an ongoing analysis of democracy along the course of American history, an event such as this is of utmost importance.  Looking back on 9/11, the tragedy was coupled an enormous sense of patriotism.  For example, I remember that all the craft stores wtihin my town had run out of red, white and blue bead.  Everyone I knew had made an American flag bead pin.  While small, the American flag pin is my "dense fact" for American patriotism and 9/11. 

Many news correspondents had alluded to the surge in patriotism following 9/11, posing the question Will America be united once again?  Or, in consideration of Tocqueville, will this event help America overcome the threat of individualism and allow for greater democracy?

I know that there are presentations in class tomorrow, but I am curious to know what my classmates think of the news.  I for one wish that I had some red, white, and blue beads to make a flag pin and more time to reflect on the matter.