Those were awesome words sprawled across the CNN screen last night. SUSPECT IN CUSTODY. Relief absolutely. No one else was hurt or killed, the city of Boston can return to life as they usually know it. Suspect No. 2 is now in custody and hopefully will survive his injuries to face judgement day. People were literally cheering in the streets, chanting USA, waving the American flag.
Inspiring as that moment was, there is little consolation for the families of the victims. What’s done is done. The losses are permanent and lives are altered or erased forever.
For what?
Here’s the big problem. That was just one pair of extremists. There are many many more. Is that what they were? We don’t even know yet, do we. I think the 19 year old was dragged down into his brother’s dark world of Isl*mic extremism out of some loyalty he felt for his brother. Sad, this.
As the nation watched, riveted to the images on the screen, the endless (ENDLESS!!) banter of hyperventilating newscasters giving us minute by minute verbal vomit about every detail over and over again…. I was thinking about what might be running through the mind of that 19 year old on the run. Just a kid, really. Did he even know or fully understand or BELIEVE in whatever the reason is going to be for this hideous terror act he and his brother had committed? Now that Brother was gone, and hey, he ran him over in his hasty retreat, that’s not gonna be an easy pill to swallow… what was left for him? Did he feel he accomplished something? and what would that be? Was it worth giving up the good education, the quality life he was building here in the good ole US?
For these extremists, there is no sense to their brand of violence. So we’re never going to find it, or make them “see the light” and reverse their radical ways. They use their religious beliefs to justify their actions. As Suspect No. 2 said to a friend.. “it’s not terrorism if the cause is justified”. How do you reason with that line of thinking?
You can’t.
And so this issue isn’t going away any time soon. As much as I hate the idea of racism or ethnic profiling, those who are radical extremist Musl*ms have made us all weary. Trust.. it’s like a piece of paper. You can hold the piece of paper fresh, crisp… then crumple it into a ball in frustration. You can open up that piece of paper again to give it another go, but it will never be the same… the inevitable lines and crinkles will remain.
When you heard about the bombing, what was your immediate thought as to who might be responsible? And when you first saw the pictures of the “persons of interest” what was your immediate thought then? Exactly. And I HATE that I felt that way but it’s not because of my own closed mindedness or ignorance. It comes from experience, lessons learned.
I love the idea of a world where all can live together peacefully – practicing their own set of beliefs, living their own way of life…coming together in areas of need and working together when necessary. It’s totally possible. I don’t ever want to judge a person by the color of their skin, the slant of their eyes, the prominent nose or their freckle pattern, the God they worship. We are all inhabitants of this earth with a right to live by our own ideals.
But the as*holes of this world have tainted our ability to do so. And yeah, you better believe I am wary and weary of the followers of a religion that states we are all deserving of death if we don’t follow their leader.
Excellent article in the Boston Globe I agree with whole-heartedly can be found HERE. Thanks Susan.
*sigh*
Well said, Karen. It is sad that we think the way we do but experience has proven to be a sad teacher. I pray for the healing of our country….and that God will stay the hand of the enemy. xo Diana
Karen, you might enjoy this writers perspective on the events in Boston.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/19/tale-two-immigrants/story.
Karen, well said. I think I'm the only one who felt any sympathy at all last night for a 19 year old who had ruined his life after ruining the lives of so many others… my better half sure didn't. It was a sad, sad week.
Went back and read the Globe piece… very well said, thanks for pointing us to it!
I can't seem to get over the fact that one of those bombs was placed right by the 8 year old that was killed! RIGHT BY HIM!
Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. If that's how it worked, I think it would be much more of a deterrent than it is now.
Well, I had a lot to say and realized I was saying WAY too much.
Suffice it to say, I agree with you! You say things better than I do. So, thank you for sharing your feelings.
xoxo
so perfectly said…..so perfectly written….xo
So perfect !!!!! Perfect written !!!!! Have a great weekend !!!!
let me throw some thoughts in here just so we all really think..REALLY think about this.
Timothy McVeigh
Terry Nichols
Ted Kacynski
David Koresh
Ted Bunday
Ed Harris
Dylan Klebold
Adam Lanza
Jim Jones ( 200 children killed there out of 900 deaths)
All home grown
When is terrorism terrorism?
the dictionary says:
"the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims"
Does it become terrorism only when…
a bomb is involved?
X number of people are killed? and if so, what is the bottom Number or least number of deaths?
Country and or religion of terrorist?
Ideology of perpetuator? If they are psychotic, are they a terrorist or just a murderer?
and if you look back at our history of slavery, at our invasion of several countries leaving millions of people on this planet who believe WE are the extremists, if you go back further at the HOLY wars in the name of Christianity, well then profiling, and terrorism and hatred and extremism take on a different light, and can be viewed from two totally polar sides..
It is not the religion that is at fault- it is man's interpretation of a religion that is at fault.
Killing people in abortion clinics in the name of "God" to preserve the sanctity of life? insanity.
All of the religions that I have studied pretty much follow the same path..of peace and love and generosity to our fellow man..it is man who distorts and cherry picks and twists the teachings…be it Christian, Mormon, Muslim or Jew, American, Palestinian, Israelite, Iranian, North Korean or Pakistani.
There are many individuals in this country who would identify themselves as "good Christians" who possess many hatreds…
pick your hatred of the week…. there are dozens
my point is this..
we MUST not ever succumb to the fear, to the grouping of individuals as ALWAYS/ONLY this or that..
or we are truly doomed.
It is scary out here and it may be easier for us to "name" the enemy… instead of facing the unknown, but we must remember that doing that is inherently wrong.
"It is time to heed the words of Gandhi: “Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.” Together, we must work towards a world where we are strengthened by our differences, and not defined by them. That is what America embodies, and that is the vision we will support."
I have no answers, draw no conclusions, I struggle to keep fear and hatred out of my heart and each day I strive to clearly consider and ponder honestly the "facts" of the world as they are spewed forth all around me.
some day I pray, and yes, I pray, that we all may live and love in a state of grace…if only mankind would get out of the way
It's heartbreaking. The New Yorker also has some great articles too. Worth the visit & the read.
They are both horrible criminals–whatever sorrow they've endured. I understand your well-deserved anger towards them.
But this . . .
"And yeah, you better believe I am wary and weary of the followers of a religion that states we are all deserving of death if we don't follow their leader."
is personal to me.
You are talking about people I know and love who would never hurt a fly, or want anyone hurt. Gentle old women like my mother-in-law, my husband, cute and curious 8 years-old who are a pleasure to get to know just like the ones "over here".
I beg you to rethink that one line–for the sake of my family of Muslims, if no one else. They are good, loving people you are tarring.
Long-time reader, Shauna
Dear Long-time reader Shauna – I am not tarring any good, loving people, muslims, catholics, jews, etc. I am referring to the ones who believe that "infidels" should be punished with death…. Those who do not believe in their leader or God. If your family does not believe this, then you are not who I am referring to. The extremists, the ones I have been talking about… believe it. And they call themselves Muslims.
Excellent article in the Boston Globe! Totally and completely agree!! USA is fortunate to be protected by vast bodies of water on either side of us. We are the most liberal and accepting group of people and country of others and their way of life to an extreme. If you don't like our way of life, our many diverse religions, the foods we eat, the clothes we wear — then GO HOME!! Nobody is making an individual live here and be like us. That's what I don't understand!! Both boys are adults. Both knew our way of life and their parents way of life in Europe. They were old enough to choose and they made the choice.
I am number 4 out of 5 boys in my family, and I know the power of influence that an older brother can have on a younger brother. I'm not saying this is any excused for what the younger brother did, but a possible reason, especially since their father wasn't in their lives for the last ten years. My guess is that the older brother had a lot of influence over the younger one. Very sad!!!! The younger brother now has to pay for what he has done.
All indications, as of right now, based on people that knew him is that he was a "normal" high school kid, but something changed him…..my guess, the older brother.
I feel so sad for those families that lost family members in the Boston bombing.
oldgreymare – hugs to you. You said what I was thinking with much grace and wisdom.
I wish it weren't so, but extremists are everywhere. I strive to be color-blind (I am using this in a sweeping-type of way), but I do see thugs. Thugs come in all shapes and hide in plain site. I do wish it weren't so.
I see I'm a little late to the party. Just when I know your going to produce another thought provoking post, I get sent to sea. ( I'm discussing this problem with my boss as we speak.)
But, just a few comments. Your question, "What was you first thought when you heard……." Mine was al Qaeda. How can I not think that. 9/11 taught me the difference, and there is a big one, between crazied extremist and lovely Muslim citizens who live in and amonst us all. I also know, you know the difference, I totally got what you were saying about the teachings of hatred that are out there. I think maybe one commenter misunderstood your point, but you wrote, "when these radical extremists Muslims"….I think your point was clear. I could sense anger and frustration in your post, and if I hadn't, I probably wouldn't follow your blog.
Your post said it all I thought. Many people, I have read or heard since the bombing, mention the young 19 year old. Some feel compassion, a little lamb led astray. When that thought begins to creep its way into my consciouness I immediately think of the deaths and the many now limbless people, and all the rest who are still in the hospital with injuries, just because they wanted to watch a foot race.
We'll probably never know what changed bomber #2 into bomber #2. All I know is, bomber #2 killed innocent human beings on a world stage. I don't know why. What I do know is, when he was in that boat, shooting once more at the Boston cops, I wanted them to open up on that boat and not stop firing until it was turned into a pile of kindling.
Your post was excellent.
Oh, on another note, Martin Finucane, my cousin, works for the globe and his byline has been all over those stories. Just sharing the love.