Mark Frank's letter explains perfectly why the celebrations following bin Laden's death displayed a disheartening lack of civility among too many of our fellow citizens ("Bin Laden death no reason to celebrate," May 4).
In stark contrast, a disturbing rationalization is set out in Hans Vreeland's letter of the same date ("Midshipman: This is why we celebrated when bin Laden died").
In his letter, Midshipman Vreeland compares the celebration by midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy to that of the munchkins in the Wizard of Oz after Dorothy's house crushes the Wicked Witch of the East.
I am very concerned that a future military leader of our nation even thinks of, let alone expresses, such a comparison.
The citizens of the United States, including those attending our service academies, are not munchkins, and the killing of Osama bin Laden is not an occasion for joy, merriment or even "national pride."
It is not as if our Olympic team had won a gold medal or our favorite football team a Super Bowl championship.
It is, instead, a time for sober reflection on the suffering of the Sept. 11 victims and those close to them, and the sad, but very real need to deal decisively with those, such as bin Laden, whose horrific acts represent the worst in human nature.
Alan Eason, Catonsville