By Angela Hill

bin Laden death not having big impact: former Sask. resident

May 4, 2011 | 6:31 AM

While there was some initial excitement after President Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden, things are quickly returning to normal.

“People are going about their business for the most part. There have been some concerns about retribution or blowback. There’s been some security alerts issued here for metro and things like that, but for the most part I think people here are considering it as not an end to anything,” said Jennifer Beth Sass, a former Saskatchewan resident, who moved to Washington D.C. from Baltimore the week before 9-11.

“It affects me in my life. I take the metro every day and so do most other people here, so I think everybody is just thinking about it, everyone is just being more aware of it,” she said.

Shortly after the 9-11 attacks, Sass sent an email to friends in Prince Albert describing the fear and shock, but also letting them know she was okay.

This letter eventually ended up as a letter to the editor, bringing a first-hand view to people in this city.
Sass said that just recently she has found herself reading that very email. It was a reminder that 9-11 was a rare instance, and something on American soil was shocking.

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“It was really, really shocking to people, it was really frightening to people and it was really confusing to people, including me,” she said.

The killing of bin Laden hasn’t had the same effect on the city, Sass said.

After 9-11 there was a lot of talk, wondering why it was happening, but 10 years later people have a greater understanding and knowledge of how the United States is seen and how it fits into the world, she said.

“The fight against terrorism and against religious extremism is really a lot bigger than one person, so that is going to go on,” she said.

But adds, “I’m very glad he was caught.”

Sass said she hopes that bin Laden’s death isn’t elevated and he is not martyred or considered a hero.

Now, it’s a matter of waiting to see how the world reacts, she said.

See more: Osama bin Laden dead: Obama

ahill@panow.com