“We must build a civilization of love or there will be no civilization at all,” Cardinal Sean O’Malley said during a special service for the victims of the bombings at last week’s Boston Marathon, according to an article by the Boston Herald.
“We are all scattered in the pain and horror of this week’s violence,” he said in an article by CNN about the service. “Some of those here were among those injured. But everyone has been affected.”
Today marks one week since the bombings took place. One week ago today, the suspected bombers took the lives of three people and injured more than 170 others.
“There were other services Sunday in Boston,” continued the article. “Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders gathered for an interfaith service on Boylston Street, near the marathon finish line. A week ago, it was a place of carnage. On Sunday, it became a sanctuary — an open-air church, synagogue, mosque and temple, rolled all into one.”
What we can do now, in order to not focus on the tragedy, is to focus on healing the communities affected by the sheer insanity of last week. And please don’t jump on us for using the word “insanity” as if we’re using the word too loosely or start berating us about the mental health care opportunities in this country. We understand there’s such a thing as clinically insane people, but if you were on Twitter at any point last week, you’d understand what we mean by “insanity.”
Although the remaining suspect can’t articulate anything from his hospital bed, he might be formally charged, as of press time.
“Authorities have not said publicly what charges will be filed against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, but a Justice Department official, who has been briefed on the case, told CNN he will face federal terrorism charges and possibly state murder charges.”
Let the authorities handle what happens to that boy. Let us focus on helping the healing process. Take time at 2:50 p.m. to have a brief moment of silence. Remember those who lost their lives — those at the marathon as well as Massachusetts Institute of Technology officer Sean Collier, who was shot by the bombing suspects on Thursday night. Bells will ring around Boston at that time.
This weekend was the London Marathon. At the start of the race, “thousands of runners and their supporters observed a 30-second silence in a show of respect,” according to an article by USA Today.
“Damian Crosby, a banker from London who was running Sunday,” the article continued, “said his family would be out supporting him ‘so obviously their security is in the back of my mind. But you just need to get on with it. That’s the British way.’”
We’re here to support. We’re here to remember. We’re not here to dwell or give any publicity to the suspects, regardless of how many of them are alive or able to speak in general.
Let’s thank the first responders and the teams of people who combed through images and videos of the event to narrow in on our answers. Let’s take a deep breath and move forward. It’s a new week.
