I still feel sick to my stomach when I think about the tragedy and the insanity of the events of yesterday's events at the Boston Marathon. I can't remember feeling like this in a long time. It's sick to think that someone would ever want to do that. I can't imagine the feelings of those who were there and those who were harmed in the events. I feel horrible for the family of the 8 year old boy whose life was taken from him let alone the others who also died. Many who didn't lose their lives will now have to live life with physical wounds as well as deep emotional wounds. This will not be forgotten quickly.
As I thought about these events and felt the horror they provided I couldn't help but think of another disturbing thought. A true tragedy is found in the fact that bombs go off and people die in other countries on sometimes a daily basis and we rarely blink an eye. We hear it on the news. We see it on the TV. I listen to global news on the radio almost every day and I hear of just a fraction of what actually goes on oversees and it's horrifying. I can't imagine how many families lose a child because of bombings. I can't imagine how many lose another loved one or maybe the whole family goes on the same day. Friends. Co-workers. Neighbours. This happens every day around the world and we don't give it much thought. I guess it's because it's not close to home. Maybe part of us has gotten used to it happening over there but not often so close to home. But should that matter?
Any humanly avoidable death is difficult to understand. Why do we do this to each other? It's really horrible. But why do we do it to others? Why don't we care so much when it's "over there"?
This whole event has really made me wonder how much I really do care for all of humanity. I care deeply for the people in Boston and it has caused me to care in a deeper way for those elsewhere in an equal way. Not sure what I can all do about that but I guess this is step one.
It's difficult to understand why someone would choose to create bombs and detonate them in a crowd of marathon spectators - or any crowd of civilians.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, it's fairly easy to understand the death of Tamerlane. In an exchange of gun fire, he was shot and killed by police - pronounced dead at the hospital. One police officer was also killed and another wounded during the exchange.
Why did the police kill him? To stop him and there's nothing wrong with that. They really didn't have much choice. I have no problem with them protecting themselves and those around them from someone with a clear intent to harm.
With the questions you ask it seems to me like you can't differenciate between the police (or military) bombing or killing someone and a terrorist doing the same - and I find that quite disturbing. One is killing inocent bystanders, the other trying to stop them.
Tell me, do you believe in justice? Protection? Do you hate evil and love what is good?
Although it wasn't perfect, the police in Boston did a great job stopping these guys. Incredible effort and I'm glad it's over.
Thanks for the comment. I think it's one thing when people chose to be a part of a conflict whether it be police, military or the opposition to them and it's another thing to be somebody who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time such as the people in Boston or like the families who never wished war to happen in their community and really have no viable option to escape. That's the tragedy. There will always be people who want to stir up conflict and I'm thankful for the people around that try to prevent that from happening. The tragedy that I talk about are those who never wanted any part of it. That's whose situation my heart goes out to whether it's local or global.
DeleteInteresting. On one hand you're saying you're thankful for people that prevent conflict while at the same time saying you can care less about police and military because they chose to be part of a conflict.
ReplyDeleteWhy do firefighters decide to fight a fire? Why do police and military get involved in a conflict?
Also, I find you use the word "conflict" loosely as if you don't know the difference between a bar fight and a war.
Can you expand?
Thanks Russ,
I'm sorry Mr. Anonymous but your responses are insulting, demeaning and rude. Please consider how your words might be read and consider a more respectable approach. Please don't question my my desire for justice or if I know the difference between a bar fight and a war. I'd request that you don't belittle me to try to gain clarification.
DeleteYou have greatly twisted my original article and my response. I am not speaking about the aggressors in any of what I've said. What I am referring to here are only the innocent bystanders that were in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's it. If it wasn't clear before then I hope this helps bring clarity about my post.
Thank you,
Pastor Russ, before you say how I've greatly twisted your original article and your response let's take another look. Yes, you started by talking about the innocent bystanders and how horrifying the event was - a tragedy (and I agree). Then you go on and talk about the REAL TRAGEDY - how bombs go off in other countries around the world, sometimes on a daily basis and although hearing about them, rarely blink an eye.
ReplyDeleteWhich bombs are you talking about?
Here we have a situation where two people built bombs out of presure cookers filled with ball bearings amoung other shrapnel designed to inflinct maximum damage then detnonate them in a crowd of spectators.
...And this is the question you raised? ..."But why do we do it to others"?
Before I comment about how incredibly rude and distastful that is, can you explain.
Who is "we" and what is "it"? What are you implying?
This is a question you should answer. I'll leave it at that for now. Thanks.
No. I won't explain that. I'm not playing your game Andrew. So if you want to read then great but don't start yet another battle of words. I'm done.
ReplyDeleteRuss, I know you have anti police and military views and often try to equate them with criminals and terrorists. Labeling them as "aggressors" and those that cause conflict - both very general terms. Maybe once and awhile call them for what they are - those that serve to protect. They might not be perfect but their intentions are good - and that's something you need to accept.
ReplyDeleteOnce you can start thinking that they're servants who give their life to governing, something that is honorable, and mean to do what is right, perhaps your heart will be more open to accepting their job as more than "aggressors" or people that cause conflict. You have to realize that they too don't wish for conflict but if threatend, are ready to stand up and fight - this too is honorable. It's why police carry guns, it's why the army has bombs, missiles and tanks. Let's realize that war or an officer firing his gun is the last, not first, option to resolve a conflict.
Choosing to ask a question like "why do we do it to others?" after the terrible event in Boston is unfortunate.
I'm sorry if I came across harsh but implying that "we" do the same to "them", in my oppinion, is completely crossing the line. Show a little respect and decency for the men and women in uniform.
You avoiding to talk about and expand why you think these things about police and military is common. I'm not suprized. I think you're confused or really don't know what to say. Claiming that God is against war, when so often in the bible He's not. I'd be confused as well.
Choosing to call this a battle of words or "game", not a conversation, shows your unwillingness to listen. You feel you have to win but can't, so instead of "playing", quit. Try being a little more open to accepting that "winning" a conversation isn't everything. In my oppinion God is not against the military or police. He's not against war in general.
This may seem rude or insulting to you (because who am I to give advice) but reading the entire bible and knowing the contexts of the verses is important to finding accuracy - not just picking and choosing verses that go along with your view while avoiding the rest. That's a dangerous practice.
Or you can continue to live in a bubble of comfort - view the police and military like you have,...continue to view God as only a God who doesn't endorse war - and is always against it. Only say Christians should not be in the military. Don't talk to anyone that thinks differently. Find people who agree and endorse your ideas.
The choice is yours.
Sadly, by saying "no. I won't explain that. I'm not playing your game...I'm done" it looks like you've made it.
I like many of the posts you write on this site but anytime you say something regarding God as only against war, Christians should not be part of police/military ...or portray them as people causing conflict, I'm going to call you on it. If you don't like that and refuse to talk about it, make this a no comment site.
You should be able to explain what and why you say something. I may ask what about this or that (it's what happends in a conversation) but I'll listen. Hope you can do the same.
Thanks,
Andrew
PS: Happy Anniversary (yesterday).
Andrew,
DeleteIt has taken me a while to respond because I originally didn't want to. Not because I don't have answers for you but because each of your comments are so backhanded and attacking that they enrage me. You continue to unapologetically insult me in every comment that you write and yet you want me to dialog patiently with you. That's tough.
I'm open to conversation but I do protect myself from arguments that are hurtful. So this needs to change.
Here are my requests for you as you read and comment
Please don't twist my words with preconceived ideas.
Please learn to respectfully dialog without slander.
Please understand that the thoughts I post are not perfect.
Please understand that I have feelings and that your comments attack not only my post but me as a person and that hurts.
Here is my response to your question about my article.
This is what I wrote in one paragraph with my explanations in parenthesis:
"Any humanly avoidable (innocent bystanders of aggression, which my whole post is about) death is difficult to understand. Why do we (people) do this to each other (innocent people)? It's really horrible. But why do we (I can see how you can take this in a militaristic way, maybe it is but that's not the emphasis of my statement so don't highlight this part outside of the whole document) do it to others (still innocent bystanders)? Why don't we care so much when it's "over there"?"
What I am trying to emphasize is that wherever there is devastation (really of any kind not just in war but also in poverty, hunger, estrangement, trafficking, and so many more cases that are potentially avoidable) there are innocent people who are affected. In this Boston instance it hits closer to home and so we feel it more because we can't ignore it as we have better ability to do when it is further away from us. What I'm saying is the true tragedy is that we often don't empathize with other innocent bystanders around the world whose lives are shook each and every day by forces around them that are out of their control.
That's it! This is not specific to any world wide instance. There are many but I don't target any. And that is that. I hope this clarifies some of my thoughts and my motivations for writing this post.
Russ,
ReplyDeleteWhat words did I twist with preconcieved ideas?
"Russ, I know you have anti police and military views and often try to equate them with criminals and terrorists."
ReplyDelete"Claiming that God is against war, when so often in the bible He's not."
"Show a little respect and decency for the men and women in uniform."
"anytime you say something regarding God as only against war, Christians should not be part of police/military ...or portray them as people causing conflict, I'm going to call you on it."
These comments side tracked from what was being talked about in the original post. My last comment restates the focus of my article and I explain how the phrase "Why do we do this to others" could have been misleading but was not meant to be the focus of the article.