Tags
Boston, Boston Marathon, Boston Police Department, Boylston Street, Christmas, Explosion, Finish Line Inc., Twitter
I knew our son-in-law would be wearing the shoes we got him for Christmas, and couldn’t wait to brag about how he did in the Boston Marathon. Instead we got a quick message from our other daughter – she had just gotten a text that he, our daughter, and his parents left the finish line before the explosions hit and were not injured.
Already twitter and other media are flooded with graphic pictures, injured runners and spectators, heroic rescues and sacrifice. We may find out how, and even who, but how can we ever understand WHY?
In the midst of horror, we’re almost embarrassed by our relief that our own are safe. That’s human nature. We pray for the injured and for their families. That’s our humanity. We’re furious and we want to punish those responsible. That’s only human.
But how can we find any humanity in those who think it’s a good idea to use airplanes as murder weapons? Or use automatic weapons on tiny children? Or use bombs to attack runners and spectators who have come from around the world to participate in an athletic event that had nothing to do with politics of any sort?
It’s too easy to say they are sick, or somehow not human. But that answer robs them of the very thing that defines humanity – free will, and the corresponding responsibility for how it is used. Somehow humans use that will to make such a choice. And that is a WHY that the rest of humanity may never have answered.
donofalltrades said:
Well said as always. I’m glad your loved ones are ok and pray for the others. All of this is sad and stupid.
LikeLike
Amanda said:
I’ve started three comments and erased them all. There is nothing more I can add, Barb, at the moment. Too stunned. Glad your loved ones are safe.
LikeLike
barbtaub said:
I know what you mean. I want to donate blood, retweet the latest updates, and most of all make sense of the senseless. But there is just nothing to add.
LikeLike
Learning the hard way said:
Barb, I can well imagine your relief. My youngest leaves for a year there in sixteen days and I feel massive unease. Land of the free and home of the brave…I wish I could keep her ‘down under’.
LikeLike
barbtaub said:
One of the things they don’t tell you when you have kids is that their job is to work very hard toward the day they leave. And your job is to let them. It’s wonderful and it sucks.
But what a wonderful statement to your parenting that your child is confident and ready to go so far. Good job!
LikeLike
Terri L. Spilman said:
Barb, I’m so glad your daughter and her husband are safe. You are so right, there are few answers to the question, “why?” when humanity fails. It’s infuriating and mindbogglling why anyone would do something like this.
LikeLike
Bastet said:
Well…I said to myself: Barb’s written an article and popped right in, wow! As I’d given newsfeeds up for lent, I’d not heard about Boston…I’m glad you and your family have been spared this ordeal. There aren’t a lot of things to add, you’ve stated the case quite well, and I agree that saying these persons are somehow less than human, is neither an explanation nor a valid excuse. The choice to destroy one’s fellow being is something that leaves me without words…thanks for the share.
LikeLike
barbtaub said:
Thank you so much for your comments and good wishes. We are the lucky ones of course. All day I’ve been imagining the other parents, families, and friends who were waiting for that call but didn’t get the good news we did.
LikeLike
Bastet said:
Reblogged this on Bastet and Sekhmet and commented:
I’d expected a lite motif, and got an inside view on an act of incomprehensible violence….a good read.
LikeLike
barbtaub said:
Thank you so much for the re-blog. “Without words” you said — and as always, you’re absolutely right.
LikeLike
jennypellett said:
A powerful piece well written, made all the more poignant by the involvement of your family. Thank you for posting this so quickly after the event.
LikeLike
barbtaub said:
Thank you so much for your comments and kind wishes. We are indeed very lucky, but our relief is overwhelmed by the realization of what the ones who didn’t get such good news are going through today.
LikeLike
Patricia Duff said:
Indeed. Let’s all just combat it with more love. What else can we do? Thanks for your post, Barb and glad to hear your loved ones are safe.
LikeLike
barbtaub said:
Thank you for the comment, and for your wonderful Boston post [http://duffchronicles.wordpress.com] as well.
LikeLike
Linda said:
Checking on your loved ones first is human nature, one of the better parts where we want to protect those we love. You should never have to apologize for checking on your loved ones first, or caring about them.
I’m glad your daughter and her family are all right. It has been a rough time for a lot of families.
Especially here in Texas
Days after the Boston Marathon, West,Texas had a fertilizer plant explode. 200 people were injured, 14 were killed – including 6 firefighters and 4 first responders. The blast area wiped out a big part of the small town.
Some days it’s hard to find the reason behind anything. All you can do is keep on going and try to keep your loved ones safe.
LikeLike