Rashard Mendenhall clarifies controversial bin Laden comments

[Walter Cronkite]

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall clarified his controversial comments about Osama bin Laden's death on Wednesday and said he did not intend for his words to incite controversy.

Mendenhall reiterated his objection to the celebration in parts of the United States to the news of bin Laden's death. But he apologized for what he said was not optimal timing of his words.

"This controversial statement was something I said in response to the amount of joy I saw in the event of a murder," Mendenhall said in a blog posting. "I don't believe that this is an issue of politics or American pride; but one of religion, morality, and human ethics."

On Twitter on Monday, Mendenhall asked in a series of tweets, "What kind of person celebrates death?"
In his clarification he explained that:

"I wasn't questioning Bin Laden's evil acts. I believe that he will have to face God for what he has done. I was reflecting on our own hypocrisy. During 9/11 we watched in horror as parts of the world celebrated death on our soil. Earlier this week, parts of the world watched us in horror celebrating a man's death."

Steelers team president Art Rooney II distanced the team from Mendenhall's comments in a statement on Tuesday. Mendenhall, 23, has played for the Steelers for three years. He rushed for 2,381 yards in the past two seasons.
Mendenhall's comments exploded in notoriety on Tuesday when talk-radio stations across the country debated them, and he became one of the most-searched for terms of the day on Twitter on Google Trends.

In his blog post, Mendenhall did not address the Twitter remark that seemed to question what really happened on Sept. 11. Before being deleted from his Twitter feed, it read: "We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."
Mendenhall added that he sent sympathies to the families of Sept. 11 victims and thanks to the U.S. troops who have fought the war on terror ever since.
He said:

"I want people to understand that I am not in support of Bin Laden, or against the USA. I understand how devastating 9/11 was to this country and to the people whose families were affected."

And Mendenhall reiterated a sentiment he first expressed on Twitter that he made his remarks because he wanted to spark conversation.
Said Mendenhall:

"I believe every opinion should be respected or at least given some thought. I apologize for the timing as such a sensitive matter, but it was not meant to do harm. I apologize to anyone I unintentionally harmed with anything that I said, or any hurtful interpretation that was made and put in my name. It was only meant to encourage anyone reading it to think."

Source: USA Today