The Best and Worst in Boston

"Man's nature is not essentially evil. Brute nature has been known to yield to the influence of love. You must never despair of human nature." ~ Mahatma Gandhi


"Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer." ~ Madalyn Murray O'Hair


I told Anita last night that I felt guilty that I was so discombobulated by yesterday’s Boston Marathon bombings. This kind of thing happens all the time in Tel Aviv, Baghdad, Damascus and Ramallah, I said, and I felt like a typical parochial American as I jumped from MSNBC to CNN so I wouldn’t miss an upsetting image or conflicting report. She replied that I was being silly because Boston’s a lot closer – 778 miles away, to be exact – than those other places so of course it might be more impactful.

So I ignored the guilt pangs and signed into Facebook to view all the predictable status updates and cloying memes like WE PRAY FOR BOSTON and LIGHT A CANDLE FOR BOSTON and UNITED WE STAND WITH BOSTON and WE ASK GOD TO BLESS THOSE SUFFERING FROM THE BOMBINGS IN BOSTON. I resisted the urge to post snarky responses pointing out that the family of the eight-year-old boy who was killed or the people whose limbs were ripped from their bodies probably wouldn’t rejoice at the news that they had been blessed by God.

I did tell Anita about my impulse, though. She gently admonished me – she’s not a cynical heathen like I am – and stated that people have the right to embrace their faith or post topical memes if they so choose. Armed with another reason to feel guilty, I turned back to the news just in time to hear the talking heads at CNN criticizing President Obama for neglecting to classify the bombings as “a terrorist act” during his nationally-televised appearance before the White House press corps. (Click here for the video and transcript of the president’s remarks.)

I also learned:

• Three people were confirmed dead – including the eight-year-old – and more than 144 injured, some critically, as a result of two explosions that occurred at around 2:50 yesterday afternoon during one of the world’s premiere athletic events.

• Many injuries were to people’s lower extremities, and doctors had to amputate the limbs of at least ten victims.

• The 26-mile-long Boston Marathon is the oldest annual marathon in the world, attracting over 26,000 runners, half a million spectators and 1,000 media representatives from around the globe.

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restricted the airspace over Boston after the attacks and security was stepped up in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and elsewhere just in case.

• There was an explosion at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, a mile from the marathon, at around 4:30 that was originally thought to be related but turned out to be unconnected.

• The Westboro Baptist Church fruitcakes intend to picket the funerals of the victims.

I also heard Piers Morgan and his guests discussing the likelihood that Al-Qaeda masterminded the blasts and Chris Matthews saying he thought the terrorist was of the domestic variety because yesterday was Tax Day after all. And according to the New York Post, a 20-year-old Saudi Arabian national is a suspect and is under guard at an undisclosed Boston hospital.

Sanitized version of AP photographer
Charles Krupa's shot

There was some online debate about whether or not gruesome images resulting from the explosions should be posted and passed around. Some feel it’s an invasion of privacy and family members shouldn’t have to stumble upon photos of their mangled loved ones. Others, like me, don’t want some hotshot editor or publisher with an agenda determining what we can and can’t see. It’s reality. It happened. Kids shouldn’t be exposed to jarring images, of course, but sanitizing coverage because some adults have delicate sensibilities is unfair to the rest of us – and to the victims, who don’t get to be protected from things that are nauseating and painful. If showing the devastating effects of a bomb, Glock or Bushmaster on the human body serves to motivate activists or deter troubled souls, shouldn’t we do it?

(To see photos, click here and here.)

Regardless of where you stand on this question, we are all Bostonians today, at least until the dust settles and life goes on. As President Obama declared, “On days like this there are no Republicans or Democrats — we are Americans, united in concern for our fellow citizens.”

We saw the best and worst in Boston yesterday. I’m always moved when I see first responders running toward danger and destruction, when people come together to rescue, comfort, aid or save others. It’s a strange juxtaposition, the ugliness of terrorism and the beauty of stranger helping stranger. Today my heart is warmed and broken.

Click here to read “13 Examples of People Being Awesome After the Attack on the Boston Marathon.”  And click here for a timely reminder from Patton Oswalt.

P.S. During the same period, seven Palestinians were killed, 55 died in bombings in Iraq and 32 others died in random attacks, and 12 died in Afghanistan. Oh, and a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southeastern Iran near the Pakistan border, killing at least 40 people and counting.


Sources: Associated Press, Buzzfeed, TIME, New York Post, Deadspin.com, Business Insider.