The 117th Boston Marathon yesterday an event usually marked by friendly competition and citywide excitement was marred by an utterly senseless act of violence, as several planned explosions in Copley Square resulted in deaths, countless injuries and a sense of uneasiness throughout Boston. Though indelible images of destruction remain most immediate in our minds, we should focus our collective attention on the inspiring outpouring of support from uniformed officials, Bostonians and the online community around the world.
The many examples of goodwill trump any negativity surrounding the event. There were stories of pedestrians and uniformed personnel selflessly rushing to aid the injured just minutes after the explosion. Medical technicians worked tirelessly in difficult conditions to shuttle the wounded to local hospitals. There were also numerous examples of Boston residents across the city and in neighboring towns offering their homes as safe spaces for those affected or injured. Even some marathon participants, likely exhausted after several hours of activity, ran the extra mile to Massachusetts General Hospital to give blood to those in need.
Online commenters around the world contributed meaningfully to the rescue effort as well. People around the globe took to Twitter and Facebook en masse, offering condolences to those affected, providing outreach regarding the location of friends and family and giving updates concerning public transportation and cellular service. On campus, Tufts students helped to identify the status of friends who either participated in or attended the marathon using the hashtag #tuftsrunners on Twitter. And within an hour of the explosion, Google had set up a Boston Marathon Person Finder page as had the Red Cross to aid in the recovery process. Mobile communication and outreach undoubtedly played a critical part in alleviating the chaos during the initial aftermath of the event.
Outpouring of support and open discussion of feelings are often the most cathartic responses to such a tragedy. But with emotions justifiably raw, it would be convenient to jump to conclusions and politicize such events unnecessarily. We should therefore be reserved in judgment and refrain from making rash assumptions, and instead take the time to acknowledge the remarkable goodwill exhibited yesterday.
It is in these moments, when our collective resolve is tested and our spirits seem crushed by mindless disaster, that the best of humanity surfaces. Yesterdays impressive display of support from people both at home and abroad should give us reason to pause and reflect on the goodness that exists in most people. Lets not allow ourselves to succumb to the fear and distress intended by those who orchestrated this attack. Instead, lets move forward with a more informed perspective on life, and an appreciation for the family, friends and community members who unconditionally place our well-being ahead of theirs.
