It was Patriots Day in Boston, a day filled with history, tradition and rituals. The violent attack, in the midst of celebration, rekindled vulnerable feelings for all of us. With 24/7 media coverage and five days of chaos and terror, it seemed like the whole nation was having a stress reaction.
Of course we all want answers.
Was Tamerlan Tsarnaey influential over his brother, Dzhokhar, embittered toward the U.S., increasingly vehement in his Muslim faith, planning other attacks? Was he anti-America and self-radicalized or tutored and trained? And if in fact the brothers were the spiders, where is the web?
It has been 12 years since 9/11 and times have changed. We live in a more dangerous world and we’re less safe in America. Islamic rage did not disappear with the death of Osama bin Laden. This is a new era with suspicious packages and the loss of innocence, with children fearful and parents anxious.
So many people spoke up about their suspicions, shared their photos and information. They didn’t hold back – joined together, looking for the suspects. Tragedy brings out the best in people, as evidenced by the spirit of Boston and the courage of first responders. Please log on again Thursday – we’ll be continuing this discussion.