Don’t Celebrate Your Enemy’s Demise

King David after hearing of the death of his rebellious son Absalom. A painting by Frederic Leighton.

One of my first lessons in morality — real morality, not crowd morality — arrived the morning after Osama bin Laden died. I was 16 and ready to party. I ran into my dad’s room as he was getting ready for work. The TV showed wild throngs in Times Square and at the White House, cheering like we just won the Super Bowl.

My dad gave me a sudden, fiery look. “Look at these people, they’re barbarians!” He…