The horror perpetrated in Boston earlier this week had a real, visceral impact for me; I have family, friends and fraternity brothers who live in the area, who could have been at the finish line of the Boston Marathon when those bombs, IEDs, went off. Thankfully, my fears for their safety and well being are so far unfounded; a source of tremendous relief for me. There was a period of time, when all I was getting was voicemeails in response to calls to find out whether those I care about were alive, when the anger, fear, and utter frustration borne of being so far away and unable to help, was almost overwhelming. Again, I am extremely lucky and fortunate that so far no one I know and love were affected by the actions of the current suspects, but that does not dispell the sense of anger, hurt, and yes, impotence, as I watch the events unfold what is essentially my backyard. I've lived, in my time in Rhode Island, never more than a hour from Boston, and over the years I've been there many times; from multiple visits to the Boston Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium, to visits to Quincy Market, a memeroable day at Fenway Park to witness the last game of Red Sox legend Carl Yastremski against Detroit, to more recent adventures with my cousin, more like a big sister, to the Boston Brewing Company, home of the best beer in the world, Sam Adams, and a memorable time at the first bar in Boston to carry Sam Adams, Doyles in Boston, whose regulars welcomed us not only as fellow New Englanders but as members of the military; Boston is MY TOWN!!! And I am stuck in Arizona, when more than anything I want to go home...
Let me say this: this is not about Checnya, Islam, or any other rationalization for the carnage inflicted on the innocent of Boston and the world, who came together for love of running, companionship and solidarity. This was about the twisted need to inflict pain, death and suffering on others, for no other reason than the selfish need to feel important; this is about the individual, not about the community, not about humanity. This is the work of people who could not in any empathize with their fellow humans, but were so focused on their own pain that all they could do was inflict that pain on others, instead of finding more constructive ways of bringing everyone together. If you want to help, here are some ways: wear Boston and New England sports gear, wear anything related to the city of Boston, visit Boston, donate the families and victims of the attacks; if you like beer, drink Sam Adams! Whatever you do, remember this: the people in Boston are just like you, with the same dreams, desires, wishes as everyone else in this country, in this world, and what happens to the few, also happens to us all.
Let me say this: this is not about Checnya, Islam, or any other rationalization for the carnage inflicted on the innocent of Boston and the world, who came together for love of running, companionship and solidarity. This was about the twisted need to inflict pain, death and suffering on others, for no other reason than the selfish need to feel important; this is about the individual, not about the community, not about humanity. This is the work of people who could not in any empathize with their fellow humans, but were so focused on their own pain that all they could do was inflict that pain on others, instead of finding more constructive ways of bringing everyone together. If you want to help, here are some ways: wear Boston and New England sports gear, wear anything related to the city of Boston, visit Boston, donate the families and victims of the attacks; if you like beer, drink Sam Adams! Whatever you do, remember this: the people in Boston are just like you, with the same dreams, desires, wishes as everyone else in this country, in this world, and what happens to the few, also happens to us all.