Yesterday afternoon we were at the Cincinnati airport returning to Boston when we heard the initial report of the bombings at the marathon finish line. It’s difficult to put into words the anger and sickening feelings one experiences upon seeing a beloved city under attack and especially the marathon event, which brings an international crowd of participants and cheerers-on.
The marathon is cherished by Bostonians and it shines a world-wide spotlight on their beautiful city during the celebration of this oldest of annual marathons. The Boston Marathon is a tremendous source of pride for our state and for our nation. Immediately your heart goes out to the victims and their families. You see featured on the news extraordinary acts of bravery and kindness in people helping people. But then you begin to think about future public events and the larger implications on our freedom-loving society.
Acts of terror, whether domestic or international, are designed to forever imprint fear. We were unable to attend the marathon this year as my widowed sister-in-law remarried over the weekend, but I know where I will be next year.
After both September 11th and the marathon bombings, students at MIT illuminated the Green Building in red, white, and blue.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Well said, Kim. I’m from far enough out of state that I can’t make promises to be physically present, but my heart and mind will be at the marathon next time and every year thereafter. We won’t give in.
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Thanks for writing Bob–well said on your part, also–we won’t give in.
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I am really sick of the phrase “our hearts go out to…” because it is an easy out; instead of doing something about the violence, in whatever form, we deplore it. All the same my heart is out there too, for the wounded, the survivors, and especially the parents. I’ll bet that next year there will be 50,000 people running, and thank God for them. There is an old Chinese saying: “May you live in interesting times.” It is, in fact, a curse.
If you want peace, work for justice.
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Thanks for writing Bill–I think people say it because they feel it, like you do, and also because we feel helpless by these deplorable acts of violence. At this point, we don’t even know if this was politically motivated or another crazy vengeful random act of violence. Yes I hope the same thing too–50,000 runners next year.
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So sadden by all of this, it really angers me that someone could take a beautiful day and ruin it, but we are a strong nation and a strong city. As a person who was brought up in Boston, it sickens me to think of such a cowardly act. Pray and remember there are more good than evil in this world.
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