If you’ve looked through my blog history, it is clear that I have neglected my blog for quite some time. My life has changed significantly since last I wrote. I finished grad school, Ann gave birth to our daughter (let’s say her name is pTerry), I have a new job, Ann has a new job, and we’re moving soon. I’ll try to write about all of those things in the future; but for now, please ignore my neglect and read on as if there actually was continuity. Today I want to write about Boston and the politics of terrorism. Hmm, I managed to make that sound dry… oh well.
The past week has been crazy. Put aside (but don’t forget) the deadly explosion in Texas caused or complicated by lax regulation, zoning, and budget cuts. Put a pin in the fact that CISPA is back again despite repeated popular protest, and no popular support. Feel free to ignore (for the moment) North Korea jumping up and down in the corner. Something is disturbing me about the Boston bombing, or to be more specific, the public and political response to the whole ordeal.
First, the bombing was horrible on many levels. People and their lives were damaged and destroyed during a time of rather pure celebration. I empathize, and my heart aches for them and the situation in a way that is recognized by thousands of people who have been feeling the same way and discussing their feelings all week by way of emotional triage. That is my politically-correct statement, but also, I want my readers to understand that this is my emotional background, even if it isn’t the subject of my writing and even if I sound emotionally cold at times.
Very shortly after learning about the bombing, people in my family and other folks prominent and obscure made the point that bombing a marathon in Boston was a stupid and pointless thing to do. It could serve no one. It was clear almost immediately that the response of the people was to come together in massive support, save most of the lives of the victims, and unify in defiance of violence and fear. The kind of fierce New England neighbor-ness that Ann is always pointing out to me was evident in spades. It was as if Boston stood up as one angry body with a giant finger pointed to the sky to defy the terror and proclaim that no one can force them to fear doing whatever they want to do. No jerk with a garage bomb has the power to make them change the way they live their lives. Today, a week later, I think that most of the people of Boston and many others are stronger, and more unified, as a direct result of the bombing.
Unfortunately, I don't think it will last. Through observation, I have developed the opinion that this country is incredibly vulnerable to terrorist acts such as these. It's not that we are particularly easy to attack in this way, but that we are damaged heavily each time we are attacked. Right now the people of Boston are more tightly knit and strong, and this is a fine demonstration of the goodness of the people, and the strength of their community. However, the governing bodies of these good people are slower to react; we haven't seen the whole response yet, and I'm worried.
Eleven and a half years ago airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center. It was horrifying and destructive, and it will most likely haunt much of our generation throughout our lives. In the aftermath of the attacks, US flags sold out, the red cross had to turn away blood donors, non-profits had to turn away supply and money donations. The entire city and most of the country resolved to emerge stronger and better than they had been. No one could inspire terror in a nation so great: in defiance the country rebelled against the will of destructive agencies. The nation was more unified than any time before or since in my life. The potential of that unity was palpable.
And then, when the slower governing bodies made their response, we spent that potential. We went to war. We enacted the traitorously named patriot act without reading it. We went to war again with little reason or evidence. We renewed and expanded the patriot act; we enacted more laws to restrict our freedoms in the name of safety. We opened and used extra-legal torture/jails all around the world. We invented the TSA, and expanded their powers and budget every year despite any evidence that they have ever stopped anything bad from happening. We continue to erode free-speech and fourth amendment rights under the guise of increased safety. How many times in the last ten years have you heard the unchallengeable argument: "If it will save even one life..." used to justify some new law or regulation?
There are many examples where this phenomenon has reared its head and new restrictive laws have been enacted to prevent something that is already illegal. But I'll stick to 9-11 for now. Two weeks after the attacks, we had culprits. Shortly after that we went to war to bring the culprits to justice and blah, blah, blah (<- anti-war rant here: ask me if you're interested.) So, massive legislative overhauls, restricted freedoms, inconvenient and expensive new travel procedures, reduced privacy, eroded rights, eroded global reputation, two wars, 10 years, 7000 US soldiers, 100,000+ Iraqi and Afghani, and more than a trillion dollars later, we caught and killed Osama bin Laden. And we're not done. The US is still technically in a state of emergency (an absurd literal contradiction), we are still involved in one and a half wars, your rights are not being repaired, people are still held in jails without being charged, the TSA isn't going anywhere, and much of the world still justifiably hates us. We were attacked and we caught the bad guys. Tell me who won. Tell me who is stronger now.
And that is what I worry about with regards to Boston too. The bombing hurt people, and they almost immediately emerged stronger. They caught the suspects (presumed innocent?). There is healing that needs to happen now, but what else will we do? What will we give up to make sure it never happens again? It is good that the people can emerge stronger from an act of terror, but what are we teaching the bad people of the world when we are so willing to harm ourselves in response? So, today, the (still hurting and still healing) people of Boston are stronger and closer; but I don't think we'll know how much the bombers really hurt us until the next Boston marathon.
It took me most of my life to date, but now I think I understand: the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.
