I wish that I could paint my paintings or write this blog in a vacuum, completely isolated from the often grim reach of the outside world. But that is impossible, of course. My work is a product of my interaction with the world and that means that days like yesterday with the horrible scene that took place in Boston cannot be stripped away or shrugged off. It affects the way we see the world, how we react to it and it makes me wonder about the motivations of those who were responsible. Why this day? Why this place?
Just why?
This is not something we know, not something that we accept as part of our life here, fortunately. I have a friend, a pen pal really, in Northern Ireland that I have known for over thirty years. He lives outside of Belfast and works in the city and over the years he has experienced all sorts of partisan terrorism in his world. He has written of becoming so inured to a world ruled by terrorism that you become accustomed to crossing the street when you see an unattended parked car on your side of the street or to having your bag checked when you walk into a store. Bombing were regular occurrences there and nobody was truly safe. A bombing in 1998 killed 29 people, including 9 children, in the small city of Omagh.
Their troubles there have waned a bit over recent years and a sense of normalcy without violence settled in for a short while. But, as their economy suffered, the troubles have began again. He writes of recent bombs there and the police finding more and more devices. His tone is a bit sad and resigned and I can’t help but think how fortunate we have been here to have thus far evaded pervasive local terrorism.
So far.
We don’t know who did this or why. Obviously, someone with a viewpoint that hovers on the fringes of the political/religious spectrum. Someone who felt that there was a point to be made with senseless suffering. Someone who thought that their belief, their opinion, would somehow justify an act of terror on unwitting victims. But we will find out who it was and it still won’t make any sense. There will never be any justification strong enough to excuse these actions. Let’s just hope that this is not a trend and we can write it off as the tragedy born of one sick mind.
Let’s hope…
Redtree Times 
I live right outside of Boston and have been a lifelong resident. The events don’t even begin to make sense.. and as you point out, they never will. How can someone explain or understand such hatred? All we can do is stand together as a community and pray this is the end of the hate and pain.
I don’t know what person or group is responsible for this but it certainly indicates that we need to find more common ground in our politics and in our lives, in general. Extreme language and action is all too accepted today and I can’t help but think that it leads to events such as this.
You have such a great point. Too many readily accept extremist behaviors and actions with a “it is what it is” attitude. The more apathy shown, the more negative events may take place.
One troubling expression kept recurring to me over the past twenty-four hours: the new normal.
I agree. Ever since 9/11, that term has been thrown around and it just seems too accepting, as though we have no choice in our reaction.