Author:
Rob
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Date Posted: 09:10:22 04/18/13 Thu
>>I had another routine column for the paper already
>>written before the Boston Marathon bombing Monday, but
>>this morning I thought it would be better to address
>>current events. Even though this column is written to
>>a local audience, I think it carries thoughts for us
>>all.
>>
>>-- Wes
>>
>>------------------------
>>
>>
>>I just watched part of the Tuesday morning news
>>conference in Boston regarding the bombing at the
>>finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday. Its
>>pretty clear to me that no one in authority knows
>>anything yet about the perpetrator of the bombing, or
>>their motives, and I refuse to speculate about it.
>>
>>But I do have to note one thing I noticed in the many
>>replays of the incident Ive seen on television: when
>>the bombs went off and people were hurt and dying,
>>there were a great many people who turned to help the
>>injured in any way they could. It struck me as being
>>similar to white blood cells racing to the scene of an
>>infection.
>>
>>It seems likely that many people in the end will wind
>>up owning their lives to the selfless acts of others
>>-- emergency personnel, security personnel, of course,
>>but bystanders, fans, and even competitors.
>>
>>Back at the time of the World Trade Center, I made the
>>comment that it had been a great act of terror -- but
>>that it was overshadowed by the thousands of acts of
>>kindness and heroism. The same thing holds true for
>>what happened in Boston on Monday.
>>
>>We in Hudson are a long way from Boston and the Boston
>>Marathon. Yet, there are several people in this
>>community who have run in that event in years past, so
>>there is some degree of connection between here and
>>there. We at the the paper have been able to share the
>>joy of our fellow citizens of the community at
>>participating in the event, where even finishing is a
>>great personal victory.
>>
>>While such violent acts as Mondays, whatever the
>>motives may be, are fortunately rare disasters of many
>>natures occur, often without much warning. I remember
>>well the Palm Sunday tornado, now almost fifty years
>>in the past, but it still carries a lesson for us
>>today.
>>
>>On that terrible night there were plenty of emergency
>>personnel responding to the scene, and they had much
>>to respond to. But one of the overwhelming images I
>>remember from the night following the storm was the
>>sound of chainsaws filling the air as local residents
>>hurried to open roads so emergency personnel could do
>>their job. No one asked them to get out in the middle
>>of that tragedy -- it was a need that many people
>>recognized, and they filled the need whether theyd
>>been asked or not.
>>
>>One of the enduring blessings of our society is that
>>people really do help out, without being asked, when
>>they perceive a need.
>>
>>We have not yet heard the last of this tragedy. We
>>will no doubt hear much more about it in the months to
>>come. Enough police and investigators from several
>>different agencies to staff an army of a small country
>>are probing into the incident, and it seems likely
>>that they will get to the bottom of this in good
>order.
>>
>>But I would hope that in the times to come when there
>>will be news story after news story about what
>>happened Monday in Boston, that the simple heroics and
>>desire to help their fellow man displayed by so many
>>on the streets of Boston will not be forgotten.
>>
>>The lives lost, the injuries sustained on Monday are
>>indeed tragic. But its my hope that the events will
>>not break the spirits of anyone in Boston or around
>>the country. If the acts of courage of many near the
>>scene of the Mondays explosions are any indication,
>>there still seems to be a lot of spirit left in
>>people. I do not want to consider what would happen if
>>we to lose this spirit of being willing to extend our
>>hand to our fellow man in time of need.
>
>
>
>One of the themes that you have touched upon more than
>once in your books is people helping others in times
>of crisis and tragedy. I find that very inspirational.
>It makes me enjoy reading your stories even more.
Interestingly enough, I was reading over "River Rat" again, and Monday I hit the chapter relating to 9/11.
Well Said.
Rob
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