By: Taryn Winston
Sadly, it’s a scene Americans have witnessed before. The shock. The heartbreak. The hundreds of innocent lives tragically taken. The spirit of a special day broken. The strength and resiliency of a city and a nation tested.
On April 15, 2013, Americans were forced to relive this pain all over again after two bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon. An alleged act of terrorism, the attacks claimed the lives of three people–including an 8-year-old child–and injured at least 144 more. Adding further to the tragedy is the particular significance of this day and race. Patriots’ Day, observed on the third Monday in April, is a holiday exclusively celebrated by the citizens of Boston. As President Barack Obama said in his address to the nation: “It’s a day that celebrates the free and fiercely independent spirit that this great American city of Boston has reflected from the earliest days of our nation.” And though the perpetrator has not been confirmed, whoever was behind this unfathomable attack certainly chose a disturbingly perfect (and awful) occasion on which to do it.
Without question, this day has further instilled fear in our nation. Questions such as “why would someone do this?” and “why us?” are circulating as we search for answers. And perhaps most sadly, faith in humanity has yet again been shaken.
In the immediate aftermath of the bombings, I was as shocked and saddened as most of my peers and fellow Americans. My heart broke for all of the innocent individuals harmed, and my blood boiled in anger as I thought about those responsible for this senseless attack. But perhaps most of all, I was (and still am) disappointed. For as I scrolled down Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites, the lack of faith in humanity and in the world utterly disgusted me. Comments such as “what is wrong with the world?” and “there are no good people left” were among several I personally spotted. And it wasn’t just my peers. Distinguished professors, newscasters, and even politicians expressed doubt and skepticism in the good of the human race.
But what these individuals fail to recognize is that “humanity” is not those who are responsible for this horrific attack. The true nature of humanity can be found in Joe Andruzzi, a former New England Patriots’ lineman who carried a wounded woman away from the scene and to safety. Or in the hundreds of marathon runners who lined up in front of the Red Cross tent to selflessly donate blood. The true essence of humanity can be found in the first responders–the policemen, the firefighters, and medical personnel–who rushed to aid the wounded amidst the smoky chaos. Or in the bystanders who ran toward (not away from) the explosion to check on those injured.
The devastation and heartbreak of that day will never be erased, just as the evil in our world will never vanish. But where there is evil, there is true goodness. Where there is pain and suffering, there is heroism and unselfishness. Thus, we must not lose our faith in humanity because, above all else, humanity–while far from perfect–is inherently good. From Sept.11 to Newtown and now to the tragedy in Boston, the true spirit of mankind has been revealed through selfless acts and an outpouring of prayer and support.
Unfortunately, there will be other tragedies. There will be more moments of sadness and heartbreak. And there will be future times where our faith in mankind is disrupted. But just as we have in the past, the strength and true goodness of Americans and the human race will get us through it. As Howard Fineman of the Huffington Post said it best: “In the end, the terrorists will fail because Bostonians did not turn from their fellow men–they turned toward them.”
