I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that last week was one of the scariest in recent memory—the terror of the Boston Marathon, a huge explosion in Texas, a door-to-door search for a terrorist… it all seems so unreal.
When something like this happens, it’s natural to spend a lot of time wondering what makes someone evil enough to do this sort of thing. What is wrong with people? Now that the second suspect has been apprehended, we may get some answers at last.
In the meantime, I am choosing to focus not on what is “wrong” with people, but what is “right.” Think of the first responders, the strangers in the crowd who ran into danger to rescue and tend to those who had been hurt. Think of the volunteers and cafes that sent free food and water and the outpouring of support. Think of the crowds of people who cheered on the police for a job well done. These people prove that civility and basic humanity still exist, even if a few bad apples make us forget.
From Atlanta, there’s little I can do, aside from making a donation to help marathon victims and praying for their recovery. But I feel truly inspired by the people who become superheroes in their own right, whether it meant finishing the race or rushing to an injured person and keeping them calm until medical help arrived. Well done, all.