Boston Marathon Bombings…

Who committed this act of “terrorism?” Why did they do it? What did they hope to accomplish? So many questions and too early for answers. We may never have the answers. We can only hope that whoever is responsible is apprehended and punished to the fullest extent of the law. But is that even enough?

Two bombs were placed on sidewalks, about 100 yards apart, where spectators were standing and watching the race. Three people were killed yesterday, including an 8 year old boy, who was there with his mother and sister (also injured), waiting for his father to finish the race. Over 140 people are now reported to be injured, some with minor injuries of cuts and scrapes, others with limbs amputated. Investigators are trying to find clues in the debris to point them to these “terrorists.” I call them terrorists because no other word fits. I call them terrorists because apart from the loss of life and injury they caused yesterday, they also left the people of Boston with fear and anxiety. Many will suffer post traumatic shock. It’s not over and it won’t be over, even when they find who is responsible. And I pray to God they do, because if they don’t, they are free to do it again in Boston or elsewhere.

And what makes this even more horrific than it already is, is that this marathon was dedicated to honor the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School and some of the victims relatives were in the VIP seats near where the bombs went off. Thankfully, none of them were hurt. The race is 26 miles long and each mile was dedicated to one of the 26 victims of Newtown, by a Connecticut group of runners. The 26 mile marker had the Newtown city seal surrounded by 26 stars. Now these poor people have another tragedy to add to the one they experienced just a few short months ago. What should have been something to help them heal, has just caused more pain.

As I watched the news, they spoke of how security measures had been taken in preparation for the race. Dogs were used to detect any explosive devices in the area. However, maybe the bombs were placed there during the race? They exploded about four hours into the race and the area was quite crowded. The FBI is going over all video footage for clues. In the meantime, security is being heightened in many big cities in the United States and around the world. No one is safe any more. Yet, we can’t live in fear and let terrorists win.

I’m not sure I know how to do that. Even when they catch these people, there will always be others plotting attacks. We don’t know where, we don’t know when. I would have never imagined that yesterday’s attack would have happened. I am still shocked when I hear of a college campus shooting. And, even though I saw the Twin Towers come down into a pile of dust and leave a gaping hole in our skyline, I still find the event surreal after all these years. It’s incomprehensible to me that human beings could have so little value for human life. I think there has to be a special place in hell for evil people like this. They don’t have a conscience, they can’t have a soul. There is no punishment on earth severe enough to bring justice for their victims and families. Where and when does the violence end? It just seems to get worse every day.