Now that the bombings, manhunt, and arrest have passed, we need to recognize that this unprecedented experience is going to affect different folks differently. Some are more sensitive, and are at greater risk from the impact of psychological stress. If Boston Strong means anything, it does not mean the emotional brittleness which our good friends in, say,Texas might describe as “toughness.” It’s OK to feel some anxiety or even depression in response to a mass trauma; lots of Americans did after 9/11. As we struggle to put on a brave face after the refrains of Sweet Caroline die down, let’s be mindful of the hurt so many of our fellows in Eastern Massachusetts are going through and give each other help in healing. Boston is strong because of its suave acceptance of diversity; caring for those whose mental health has been affected, however and for whatever reason, is a key factor in nurturing collective resilience.
To me it is a news event, but not something that effects me directly. Of course my heart goes out to those who lost loved ones. Of course I pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured (and the doctors report tonight that they expect all to survive). However, I don’t believe I know anyone who was on site, though it probably wouldn’t take more than a couple degrees of separation to find someone. I don’t fear, I’m not anxious, my life goes on normally. I was bored with the story by Monday night though I did watch Thursday’s service and have the news on Friday night when they got #2. I don’t understand why it was treated like a rerun of 9/11 with “only” 3 deaths. I don’t understand why campaigns were suspended as if we couldn’t handle talking about or doing anything else, except for the practical matter of not canvassing where and when it may not have been safe. I’m not a cold person, but I’m no more emotional about this than any other news story we occasionally get where multiple members of a family are murdered in their home.
there’s nothing “right” or “wrong” about how people react — the only thing that would be “wrong” is not being respectful of how others feel (whether it’s people on your end of the spectrum criticizing those who are still shaken, or those who are still shaken who are critical of people like you who are not).
Also, I don’t recall any homicide here that also involved dozens of people being brought to hospital with life-threatening injuries or multiple limb amputations in public on the streets. That part of the tragedy has affected many people as well, which is a lot of people do not feel the same as they do when hearing about most other crimes.
I suspect some of the difference in response may simply be hardwired in us, especially how we respond to the images we’ve been seeing over and over. In my readings about grief and grief counseling, though, I’ve come across some interesting points about people who suffer a great personal loss unexpectedly versus those who suffer a great personal loss that is expected (such as the loss of a loved one after a lengthy illness).
One is no “better” or “easier” than the other in terms of loss, but people who have a loved one die “out of the blue” — murder, car accident, totally unexpected heart attack — earlier in their lives can be more likely to worry about and be affected by things such as this that are out of their control, regardless of the statistical probabilities of being personally affected (the blanket media coverage and constant replaying of the images is probably not helping here).
I’m not sure if you feel an emotional connection to the Boston Marathon, but I’d guess that those who do — the millions who have run it, watched it or volunteered at it over the years — are more likely to feel this personally than those who don’t care about the event as much. It might be the same for those who feel a personal connection to the site or neighborhood where they may have happy memories.
I hope I didn’t come across as critical of those who react otherwise; I am simply trying to understand the difference. You are correct about my lack of connection to the Marathon. I have known runners and wish them good luck, but as a history buff I spend most Patriots Days cringing over how the day has morphed into Marathon Day at the expense of Lexington Green and North Bridge re-enactments commemorating the actual reason for the holiday.
I can also understand connection to the location. September 11th was of course larger scale anyway, but as an alum of The George Washington University who did political internships it felt closer to home to hear that the White House and Capitol were even targets albeit ultimately not hit. GWU is under White House restricted air space and I had more personal acquaintances in DC that day. A few years later I was back in the area and my daily commute took me right past the Pentagon and I found myself wondering how I would have reacted if I had witnessed the plane hit it, given that my morning drive would place me there right about the time of day it was hit.
I agree about media not helping, especially when they really have nothing to say.
which is why I said I think the only thing that I feel would be wrong was criticizing the reaction of others.
For many who are emotionally connected to the Marathon, it is not just the race that’s important, but the sense of community all along the route. I’ve watched it for many years, and I find it very inspiring how the crowds don’t leave after the leaders race through, but stay — often for hours — cheering on total strangers to encourage them.
I understand your disappointment that the actual historical event tends to get lost — I’ve been to the re-enactment at the Old North Bridge and it’s quite moving (but also very early). I doubt this will convince you, but I think there’s something nice about celebrating a spirit of global community on the day that marks the nascent beginnings of our nation.
it was an assault on one of our region’s biggest and most celebrated events, in which millions upon millions of people care about deeply and hundreds of thousands to millions attend every year.
it was the destruction of not only individual lives, but entire families, creating a series of shared tragedies we have never quite seen in this area.
Three people died, despite our best efforts, and it was only through the heroic efforts of our Best-in-the-World first responders and hospitals that 170 people were able to survive Monday and others on Friday, including one police officer who was critically wounded.
The alleged bombers drove through the streets of our city and region lobbing hand-made grenades and pressure cookers before finally being killed and caught, putting untold numbers of others in more danger. Investigators believe they planned more terrorist strikes.
What is there not to understand? This was a horrific event and we must worry about it and care about it for a great deal longer, because of the aftermath. It is nothing to get bored with, not when it will take many victims years of rehabilitation and efforts to fully move forward in life, not to mention the help and support we must give to the grieving families.