For today, I am going to take a break from talking about dance. I am not typically one to write out my thoughts about current events. For one time, though, this is too important.
By now, the whole world has heard about the bombings that took place at the Boston Marathon. It is incredibly tragic. People who died, children who lost limbs, people who are still in the hospital with traumatic brain injuries. It's horrific to think that someone would want to do that to people.
And today, even as I type this, there is a massive manhunt going on after one of the two suspects has died, and one is on the run.
I grew up in a town about 20 minutes north of Boston. I went on school field trips there. I went there for theater and dance events. After college, I spent evenings enjoying the nightlife it has to offer. I worked in Boston for 4 summers. I have gone into to Boston just to hang out. I have attended Red Sox games, Bruins games, and Celtics games, all right in Boston. Boston is practically my home turf.
I have gone through a vast amount of emotions. I started out scared for the people I knew that were in Boston for the marathon. After finding out that my friends and family were safe, my fear turned to sadness. At points, I felt angry. I remember watching the video footage of it for the millionth time on Monday, and just crying out "WHY?!" to the air. Mostly, though, I felt that heavy hearted sadness that can only come with knowing that so much innocence has been ripped away from a city I love so much.
In the days after this circus has started, I have come to terms with the sadness. Yes, I still have moments of tears, and I will not lie- I feared for many friends this morning who I knew were affected by the lockdown. What has scared me the most, though, has been the outcry of hopeful violence on this second suspect on the loose.
I can't tell you how many Facebook or Twitter statuses I saw that spewed hate. "Let's kill this [expletive] and make him pay!" "We should tear this guy's legs off as punishment!" So many many more were similar.
In times like these, I am disappointed in humanity. In the wake of the bombings, the world watched as people ran towards the bombs and towards the victims to help. Marathoners ran to the hospitals to donate blood. The people who were there saw the carnage and the desperation of the victims. They are not the ones who are sitting on their computers typing messages of hate. Those people behind their computers are sadly an influence in this social-media-obsessed age, and it saddens me that they are not focusing on the good that people are doing.
What I want from this tragedy is not for this 19 year old boy who is a suspect to be found dead. I want him to be found alive, and for him to cooperate. If he was coerced by his brother, or he had found some kind of hatred in his own heart to turn on a country that had taken him in, I want him to live.
This is my reasoning. I want him to be convicted. I want the family of Richard Martin to be able to look into his face and know that it's over. I want the family of Krystle Campbell to forgive him for his sickness. I want all of the families that have been affected in one form or another to know that he is one against billions. I want this 19 year old to see that in wake of this darkness and pain and hurt that life continues. Life grows, and that our hearts as a community grow.
Last night, I attended a candlelight walk in honor of those affected by the bombings. 2,500 were reported to have shown up. We stood on the Salem Commons with flags and candles in our hands. We listened to the speakers (including John Young) and stood silently. I have never been prouder than last night to not only be a part of something so big, but something so loving. There was SO much love being sent out into the universe. To look around the Commons and see the flickers of light in the dark was such a powerful and hopeful moment for not only the community, but the country.
I want who is responsible to see the amount of love in the communities across the world that this has spawned. I want them to see that these families that he has broken will be put back together. I want him to see that this is not tearing our country apart, but pulling us together. I want him to see that even though it seems that he tried to attack the spirit of an international event held by one of the greatest cities in the world, our spirits are stronger than ever, and our convictions are more positive. I want him to see that he failed.
I want him to see that in darkness, there is, and always will be, LIGHT.
I urge anyone who reads this to go out there and do GOOD in the world. Be kind. Be hopeful. Help those in need. Our world has seen so much tragedy in just one week, not just from the bombings, but from the Texas explosions that has caused more casualties, that we all need to continue to bring the light to our own lives, and to others.
Whether you go about it through religion, politics, or just helping a friend or stranger out, send your love out into the world. We need it.
