None of us know much about what happened today, beyond at least three tragic and untimely deaths and more than one hundred injuries.
I hope that we who call Boston home will react to this horrific event with compassion and courage. Compassion for the victims — beyond the families and loved ones of the dead and wounded, all of us are victims. Courage to redouble our efforts to hold fast to the values we live for, in the midst of hysteria, fear, and panic. In my view, this is a time to open up rather than shut down. A time to join forces with cities throughout the world and throughout history who have experienced attacks like this and moved beyond them.
There will be, inevitably, calls for “increased security” and a clamoring to “suspend” even more of our basic human and constitutional rights. If we succumb to these calls, the bad-guys will have won.
I hope that all of us can dig deep and connect to the best of our historical and intellectual traditions as we come to grips with today’s events, each in our own way. Freedom, and the benefits of a truly free and open society, is dangerous and costly. We received, today, another first-hand lesson about how radical the American vision really is — and how much it can cost.
jconway says
Patriots Day commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord and the rides of Paul Revere and Will Dawes. Those men rode and fought to protect liberty, freedom, and democratic governance. They were also farmers fighting to protect their towns and neighbors. We have no idea who is responsible for these heinous acts. We do know that all of us, friends and neighbors, will ban together to protect our towns, our homes, and one another.
We will donate blood, we will donate our time and money, I am confident we will come out in great numbers to vote in the upcoming elections, and we will keep moving forward as a country and a community. I have good friends that are Cambridge cops and firefighters and a friend who is an MGH nurse. I am sure they are all very busy tonight treating the wounded and keeping us safe. Keep them and the victims in your thoughts and prayers.