In re Boston, in a quote from Patton Oswald that’s going around the internet, and which I thought was apropos of the CL spirit here:
Boston. F***ing horrible.
I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, “Well, I’ve had it with humanity.”
But I was wrong. I don’t know what’s going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths.
But here’s what I DO know. If it’s one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we’re lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they’re pointed towards darkness.
But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We’d have eaten ourselves alive long ago.
So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, “The good outnumber you, and we always will.”
Have to include a quote from one of my favorite people, Mr. Rogers. He must have had an equally wonderful mother.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers–so many caring people in this world.”
Thanks for sharing that is a really nice.
This is true. Mr. Rogers seemed to always have the right things to say. I am glad that I learned something new today! My perspective has changed.
Right on Goldie! Mr. Roger’s quote is once again very timely and true.
Today I was on the computer when the Breaking News Alert about the Boston Marathon came through. Turning on the TV and watching all the carnage I immediately thought, “this is no gas explosion it looks like somebody attempted to detonate something- likely a pipe bomb, back pack with explosives etc.
My next immediate thought was the Martin Luther King Day parade in January 2011 in Spokane, WA. Just before the parade, 3 contract Labor Ready employees at the parade spotted a suspicious back pack. Further investigation alarmed them when they saw there were wires coming out of the back pack. They alerted police and the police then quickly diverted the parade route, and the bomb squads were called in to handle it. THANK GOD for those three city employees! Subsequent investigation revealed that the radio frequency wired bomb was designed to cause carnage and injury to spectators -nails and shrapnel in the back pack were laced with rat poison. Holy sh*t!! Can you imagine?
Subsequent intensive forensic investigation and a lot of hard work led investigators to forensically tie the back pack to a neo-Nazi white supremacist named Kevin W. Harpman- a lone wolf. They lured him out of his home 2 months later in Stevens County with a brilliant ruse, they even had to ram his vehicle with a back hoe as this guy they knew would be armed with weapons- he was. Harpman was charged, pled guilty and was thankfully sentenced to 32 years in federal prison in December 2011.
Here’s the link: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2012/january/hatecrime_011312
Get this though, Labor Ready attempted to ‘fire’ these underpaid employees for putting themselves at risk for touching the back pack with the bomb in it! When this hit the news- Labor Ready then of course quickly denied firing them. Rightly so, these underpaid workers were honored with gift certificates, standing ovations and kudos from the police, mayor and governor.
see link: http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2014471938_mlkbomb12.html
So today, I thought A LOT about how these under paid Labor Ready employees and those diligent workers, federal investigators, police, crowd control saved SO many people by doing their jobs and just caring about what they do. THEY are the helpers of which Mr. Rogers speaks. They intervene and care for others and do their jobs really well- because they are good people. Watching today’s horrible news really made me think about how much grief was prevented just 2 years ago in Spokane, WA. Kudos to those 3 underpaid Labor Ready workers!!!
There are a lot of hard working, talented investigators who will work hard on investigating this Boston Marathon bombing. God Bless and God Speed to them all who help take care of humans around them and prevent further evil- THEY are everyday heroes. CL is right- good shall prevail over evil.
Absolutely — those cops and fire fighters and first responders are heroes. And it’s my blog so I can be political — those are your TAX DOLLARS at work! We don’t pay these people nearly enough and they do such important work. Drives me crazy all these cut backs so corporate America can have it’s big tax breaks. All this insanity about dissing union wages and public servants.
Speaking of heroes, did you guys see this story about Carlos Arrendondo? This will make you tear up. He lost both his sons (one in Iraq) and he was one of the first bystanders to help. http://www.ibtimes.com/meet-carlos-arredondo-cowboy-hat-wearing-hero-boston-marathon-bombing-1194089#.UWy-B_oAhqo.twitter
Mr Rogers: “Always look for the helpers”
Let’s not forget about those heroic attorneys.
I work outside of Boston, but live in the city. Patriots’ Day is special. Families at the game or cheering on the runners. It is a great day in Boston.
After a work meeting, a coworker game in to tell me about the bombs.
I headed for home when I heard. My daughter had gone to the Boston Red Sox Game.
None of the cells worked. For once, I prayed she went to a bar and did not go the finish line. I got a one word text from her “safe”. Today, I am getting ready for work thinking about the families that are not safe. A Dorchester boy is dead, his mother in the hospital with a major brain injury and a younger sister with an amputated leg.
It is not of the magnitude of 9/11, but please pray for Boston and our families.
You guys in Boston are in my prayers.
I’m so sorry BI, what a traumatic day for you. So relieved to hear everyone in your family is safe! ((Hugs)))
Big time prayers.
Prayers prayers prayers