What was otherwise an ordinary spring day quickly turned into a bloody massacre when two bombs exploded near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon killing two and injured more than 100 people on site.
As information slowly trickled in, and I watched as much of the broadcast feed as I could get, the news reminded me of 9/11 all over again. How many times are we gonna have to see this movie, I thought. I wish I had said this:
"The human garbage who commit these atrocities take advantage of the fundamental American freedom to move and associate freely. And they cowardly target defenseless people who not only pose no resistance to them but have no idea they are even part of whatever conflict the terrorists think they're engaged in. Terrorism is cowardice."
When I got home, after fighting back tears during my drive, I went for short run yesterday, in the rain. it wasn't a quality run but I like to think it helped a little bit. I've never been good enough to get into Boston and would have been fine just qualifying all those years ago. I've long since put that desire on the back burner. Now I kinda feel like I need to figure out a way to run that racecourse, a course that will forever be changed.
What to say about yesterday that hasn't already been said. One of the bloggers on ChicagoNow said it pretty well:
- Don't blame anyone social, political, religious, or ethnic group for the attack. Namely, don't blame the Middle Easterners or Muslims. Blame just the person(s). Evil isn't a consequence of heritage. Evil is evil.
- Don't generalize. One person in a social or ethnic group can cause damage but don't extend the guilt to everyone else simply because of their heritage or nationality.
- Don't blame President Obama. Or Bush. Or Al Gore. Or another political party or person you disagree with.
- Don't immediately use the tragedy to promote your beliefs or causes. People from all sides in politics are already guilty of this.
- If you are not a 'believer,' don't make fun of or fault people for praying. Even if you don't believe it provides material assistance, it can't hurt. And it is often of comfort to both the pray-er and the pray-ee.
- If you are a believer, don't denigrate people who don't believe or make fun of them when they are supportive of your own beliefs and desire to pray. It's an act of generosity, people. Of solidarity. The atheists who are tweeting these things *understand* that now is not the time to make show of our divisions or differences.
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