Reflections...

On the afternoon of April 15, 2013 I was home with my husband. I was prepping the ingredients for our dinner for that evening. We were laughing, talking and just enjoying each others company. As usual the television in the kitchen was on, when all of a sudden out of nowhere there was an interruption on the news about what was happening in the 117th Boston Marathon. We both sat down watching in disbelief as another terrorist attack was unfolding in our own backward. My first thoughts were for real? How can this be? It felt surreal. I saw the images on the television but couldn't believe it was happening. I remember my husband saying god bless those people and give them strength. I felt the pain of those poor people as if it was me in the middle of that chaos. How I would freak out, feel confused, scared, and not be sure of what to do or where to go. How can somebody in the middle of all that chaos know where it was safe to go?

The city and our Government learned that the country is still vulnerable to terrorist attack. The nation realized that the "war on terror" as President Bush declared isn't over. The world learned that people will do evil and cowardly things to make their points, and that Boston citizens are tough and don't cave in to terrorism. We are Boston strong. We all saw the bystanders that run into the blast to help out their fellow citizens.That horrible event also showcased how as Richard Serino stated in his statement to the hearing for Lessons Learned from the Boston Marathon Bombings: Preparing for and Responding to the Attack on July 10, 2013 "It was an amazing example of humanity, service and teamwork". In the same hearing Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis, III stated that "The community plays one of the most important roles in our Nation’s fight against terrorism. They contributed to the success, efficiency and safe resolution of the investigation by providing videos, photographs, information and sheltering in place." Dr. Arthur L. Kellermann stated that "Boston’s responders were both lucky and good". The real lesson learned in this horrible event is that we as people don't really have the power to stop a lone wolf intent in hurting people, but we have the power to live and help those in need.



As a society we have to understand that terrorism is a form of manipulation. It is meant to terrify a community to despair and and give in to the terrorist demands. So what do we do about it? We do like that old British propaganda saying "Keep Calm Carry On". We don't let the terrorist dictate how we live. We live our lives without fear even if the possibility of an attack is around the corner. The minute we lock ourselves away and stop living freely we lose to the terrorist. We become stronger by continuing living and not fearing. We remember the victims of these horrible acts and turn it into moments of solidarity. Our next steps should be to identify how this happened. How a person living in this country can so easily turn into a lone wolf terrorist and use the very freedoms guaranteed by our constitution to terrorize.

The latest terror threats we receive are from Muslims extremist intent on harming the west by any means necessary. As a country we need to look into the war on terror, and be honest in determining if these wars have made us safer or left us with more enemies. In an analysis by James L. Payne of Osama's bin Laden's statements and interviews documented in the book "Messages to the World (2005)" by Bruce Lawrence 72% of bin Laden's statement revolve around "Criticism of U.S./Western/Jewish aggression, oppression, and
exploitation of Muslim lands and peoples". The percentage is staggering and telling if the ill will towards the west comes from our involvement with Muslims lands and it's people ,then why not give the terrorist what they want. Let's leave those country alone. Let them figure out what they want for their own lives, governments, and countries.

People do horrible things and this is nothing new. After all we been dealing with terrorism for decades, prior to 9/11 we had domestic terrorist. We have people dying through mass shootings in schools, malls, and churches. We also have empathetic, altruistic and brave people that jump into the fray and help out others. That characteristic of the american psyche is was makes me proud to be an american. We are strong, independent and don't give up easily.