Well, everybody must have heard by now that there were bombings in Boston yesterday, two at the marathon and one at the JFK Library. Kudos to the police and emergency personnel (and other helpful bystanders) on the ground for coping with such event as well as they did!
I feel a bit selfish, actually. I knew from the news coverage that 'everybody' wasn't okay, so I first hoped that my Bostonian friends and their friends and family were okay. It doesn't mean that I don't care if the people that I don't know are injured or killed, of course. But that's the way it goes; when things go awry one worries first about the people that one knows... then the strangers.
Lots of folks have commented online on the news of the bombing. Many are commendably thoughtful. As expected; however, there are also some callous morons already making jokes and/or making stupid speculations. It's weird how things like this goes. When you turn on the television and see a scene like what happened at the Boston Marathon you imagine yourself in the scene - safe and clear headed and knowing best what to do - a regular bullets/bombs repellent Superman. You don't imagine yourself laying dazed on the ground missing a limp or two while chaos breaks out in every direction.
I spent last Sunday volunteering at the Gran Fondo Campagnolo organized bike ride in Little Italy bit of Downtown San Diego, most of the time within a stone's throw from the finish line. So had bombs gone off there like they did at the Boston Marathon I'd probably be one of the bloody limp-less folks rather than a bomb-repellent super hero going around rescuing others... And that would really suck, no less because my beloved bike would have probably been totaled by the bomb, being parked in the valet lot right next to the finishing stretch. And I can hardly afford to buy a new bike at the moment.
But that's quite beside the point; whoever set off those bombs did their 'message' or 'cause' no favor at all with such action. They hurt and killed innocent people who were out doing good deeds (much of revenue generated by events like this go to charity, and then there were those out to lend their support to others). Even the emotionless ones amongst us aren't going to care what message you want to send with the bombing. No message can justify such delivery method. Retaliation is what you're going to end up getting instead of any receptive hearing of your complaint. Like democracy, peaceful protest is the worst way of getting oneself heard except for all the alternatives. It is frustrating, but it is the only way!
Oh, before I forget... to the unharmed survivors; I'm glad that you weren't killed or hurt by the bombing, but please stop talking about how 'god' took it upon itself to protect you from harm. Whatever 'god' is or isn't it sure didn't protect those who actually got hurt and harmed by the bombs, and I am quite sure that those victims weren't any less worthy of a godly protection than you are. Peace out!
By the way, if you are in Boston area (or were expected to be at the marathon) and weren't injured by the bombing, please go and register yourself on the Red Cross' Safe & Well list.
Also, here's how you can help with the aftermath.
3 comments:
oh mister Smorg, I had such a nice weekend, and I was finally feeling better, chirpier, a bit healthier, but yesterday's events in Boston, really brought me down, the senseless violence... Always good to read you, I don't believe in revenge, but I really hope they find out who the heck did this... Praying for the injured people, for the traumatized people who were there, and for the humanity that seems to have lost its way...
Re: Your second to last paragraph, about religion: a thousand times yes on that.
Hola bella Bere: What a surreal week it's been, ay? One of the bombers still running around near Boston and then that big fertilizer plant blew up. We're living charmed lives here in relatively uneventful San Diego!
So it seems it was a pair of young lads... Don't know what was wrong with them, but it does drive home to me to not assume too much about people. It seems quite a rare thing when something like this happens and the people that knew the perps saw it coming. Most murderers seem very normal to people who supposedly know them best!
Anyhow! I hope you're still recovering well, though. Perhaps a dose of Aida at the opera or a trip to Cabrillo (for free!) will help even more. :o)
Hi Ear: Didn't want to say it, matie, but I heard so much of that 'God was looking out for me' stuff right after the bombing that it got on my nerves. :oP Hope things are uneventful in your neck of the woods! :o)
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