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* Patton Oswalt on the Boston Marathon bombings…
I don’t know what’s going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths. But here’s what I DO know. If it’s one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. […]
This is a giant planet and we’re lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they’re pointed towards darkness.
But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We’d have eaten ourselves alive long ago,
….Adding… Continual live updates are here.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 9:31 am
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Well said
Comment by Tom B. Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 9:46 am
It is amazing how much immediate impact one person/group with a bomb can make on us. It is also interesting to note how little long term impact these bombings have on our society. Mr Oswalt is right to describe the diluting effects of our better natures.
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 9:50 am
And from the opposite theological perspective… There but for the grace of God go we.
Comment by Yossarian Lives Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 9:55 am
Good quote!
Thousands of marathoners run to raise money for charity. And hundreds of thousands donate to them and cheer them on.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 9:56 am
The last line was left out…and I found it to be the best line he wrote:
So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, “The good outnumber you, and we always will.”
Comment by the wonderboy Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 9:59 am
===the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus===
Some of yesterday’s runners kept on running to sites so they could donate blood. Relief agencies were reporting huge donations, some servers even crashed under the weight of the public rushing to donate. First responders and even regular citizens ran into the smoke, not away from it.
As horrible as these attacks are, they cannot defeat the American Spirit and they bring us together more and more. I prefer to focus on this aspect and will wait for the investigation instead of speculating who or why.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 10:00 am
Thank you, Rich, for the Post.
Not one thing needs to be added.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 10:03 am
rock on, Patton! I know someone who had finished the race but was around the site when the bombs went off and that alone is a terrifying experience. peace all.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 10:12 am
It’s a beautiful and meaningful quote. The selflessness and courage of those who immediately began helping the wounded, and who later continued to help them, are what defines us.
>>As horrible as these attacks are, they cannot defeat the American Spirit and they bring us together more and more. I prefer to focus on this aspect and will wait for the investigation instead of speculating who or why.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 10:23 am
Yossarian Lives makes the point succinctly, but I think it bears elaborating. I don’t want to debate the philosophies at all. But while I agree with Oswalt, there are theological (and maybe secular philosophical) perspectives that incorporate the notion of humanity being essentially evil. They just have an explanation for why we do good things, namely a god, gods, or other supernatural influence. Either way, I think the take-home is that we can be, and generally are, good when we need to be.
I read a blog post by Dave Munger, a runner in the race who focused at length on the massive, cheerful, positive effort Boston’s people made to host this race. The thorough attention to detail, the attitudes (and multitudes) of volunteers and spectators…this race is a manifestation of what’s good about people, and it wouldn’t be possible unless many tens of thousands didn’t want to help it happen.
We do good things. We need to remember that. And you’d better believe that if I was a bleeding spectator lying on that sidewalk, I wouldn’t give a damn why the volunteer comforting me was there, and I’m sure they wouldn’t have stopped to think about it.
We do good things, and we need to remember that.
Comment by jaranath Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 10:37 am
attacks like this have been happening in other countries in recent years. we have been almost overdue for this type of attack. i was expecting the target would be a transportation center, like subway entrances. that would create more lasting fear for daily life than attacking a crowd assembled for a marathon.
i am a bit disappointed that the president did not call it a terror attack, which is what it was. in todays briefing by all the assembled big shots promising their best efforts (which i believe they will deliver), only the mayor called it a terror attack.
we need to pursue those who carried it out, but also those who sponsored them.
Comment by langhorne Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 11:12 am
Awesome quote!
And I have to admit I got a little choked up watching the coverage and seeing the many first responders and others who were running toward the blast site, not giving a second thought to their own safety but immediately heading into the carnage to help. And my hat goes off to and my heart goes out to all involved,. And any person or group who would do this should look at those pictures and know that these are not people who are going to be intimidated. It is evident that the same blood that flowed through the veins of those at Lexington and Concord flows through the veins of those who came to the aid of their fellow man yesterday.
Thoughts and prayers for the victims.
Comment by Irish Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 11:40 am
Amen. But I truly do hope and pray also for justice–that they will find, even if it takes years (let’s of course hope not) the real culprit(s)/deranged coward(s) responsible for this despicable, repulsive, heinous crime, not only against America, but against the WORLD and humanity–this Race was an INTERnational Event, after all…
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Tuesday, Apr 16, 13 @ 4:45 pm