General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Boston Marathon Bombing: Keep Calm and Carry On
It'd be easy, but it'd be wrong. We need to be angry and empathize with the victims without being scared. Our fears would play right into the perpetrators' hands -- and magnify the power of their victory for whichever goals whatever group behind this, still to be uncovered, has. We don't have to be scared, and we're not powerless. We actually have all the power here, and there's one thing we can do to render terrorism ineffective: Refuse to be terrorized.
It's hard to do, because terrorism is designed precisely to scare people -- far out of proportion to its actual danger. A huge amount of research on fear and the brain teaches us that we exaggerate threats that are rare, spectacular, immediate, random -- in this case involving an innocent child -- senseless, horrific and graphic. Terrorism pushes all of our fear buttons, really hard, and we overreact.
But our brains are fooling us. Even though this will be in the news for weeks, we should recognize this for what it is: a rare event. That's the very definition of news: something that is unusual -- in this case, something that almost never happens.
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/print/2013/04/the-boston-marathon-bombing-keep-calm-and-carry-on/275014/
Logical
(22,457 posts)boston bean
(36,221 posts)Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)Let us remind congress of HOW MANY Americans are killed by gun violence EVERY SINGLE DAY. How is THAT not terroristic?? I'd love to hear them stutter out some rationale that wouldn't irk the NRA.
Edit for typo
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)My husband and I have tickets for BB King tonight. We will be staying near Times Square, and will probably stroll around after the show. I'm a wee bit uneasy, but I am not going to let this spoil our fun.
I'm sure security will be super tight, that isn't going to bother me either.
My thoughts and prayers are with Bostonians.
boston bean
(36,221 posts)I agree with you.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)I'm not really afraid. There's nothing I can do personally to stop anything, other than point something odd out to an officer. We have psa commercials here "If you see something, say something." Living in fear is really not living at all.
I hope you and yours are fine.
boston bean
(36,221 posts)No matter who they are. I'm not sure who's responsible.
I'm a bit more angry. Only way to overcome this stuff is to not give up any freedoms out of fear.
Me and mine are fine. Thank you for the kind thoughts.
We have a national guard base not far from the house. Downtown Boston is about a half hour away. I heard the copters flying overhead for quite a few hours yesterday.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)I hope they find the cowardly fuck. They took a joyous day and turned it into death and destruction. That's enough to anger even the most mellow.
fishwax
(29,149 posts)sarge43
(28,941 posts)mike dub
(541 posts)Prediction: The B.A.A. --the Boston Marathon race organization-- will be FLOODED (more than Usual--which is alot) with qualifying times/registrations for next year's race. The coward(s) is NOT going to get his/her/their way. The Boston Marathon will continue on as great as always. As a runner who qualified for and ran Boston in 2007, I might now make it a Goal to re-qualify (under the now even-tougher qualifying times) and run that great race again. With age, I'd about given up hope on ever qualifying again. But now I might have to. We're with you, Boston.
Mike in North Carolina
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Wonderful piece.