My heart is very heavy over the Boston Marathon bombings. When the first of dozens of alerts came in on my phone my heart was in my throat. I knew a couple of people who were running and about a dozen who go in every year to enjoy the party that is the spectator's side of Marathon Monday. Fortunately, by 6:30 pm I heard from the last of them that they were okay and felt so blessed that they were all well. Seeing the carnage tore at something inside me but at the same time the everyday people who were running toward the explosions to help was such a brightness in such a horrific time.
Of course, the coverage has been crazy. I don't know where you are, but here in Louisville, with Thunder over Louisville this weekend and the Derby coming up in two weeks there has been a lot of conversation as to what measures should be taken to ensure that this doesn't happen here. In addition, every newspaper, television station and internet news venue has been updating every few hours any information coming out of Boston. Feeling very invested, I have been reading a LOT of stories. The problem with that is that I also read the comments. I usually find it very interesting to see what my fellow man has to say about big stories. This time, quite honestly, many-many-many of the comments have turned my stomach. If I were to go on about all of my issues with the things that come out of people's mouths (fingertips?) it would take us a week so instead I will just put here an open letter to all of them at once:
Dear Person Commenting on the Boston Marathon Bombing:
I have read your comments on the news stories and I believe that many of you are incredibly confused. This event left three people (so far) dead, over a dozen missing limbs and almost 200 injured right here on our own soil. Additionally, thousands of men, women and children will be emotionally scarred for a very long time. During this we have also seen the best of people, coming together to help their fellow man. So please let me break this down for you.
This is not about your political agenda.
This is not about your gun rights.
This is not about your religious views.
This is not about your bigotry.
This is not about YOU!
. I don't care what you think about the President. I don't care what you think about being able to carry a gun. I don't care what you think about your God's vengeance. I don't care what you think about this/that or another race. Your negativity and hatred are the root of all of this. If you and people like you weren't so quick to open your mouth and spew your venom maybe, just maybe, people would actually get along better and there would be less of an inclination to cause such mass carnage and chaos. Yes, there is evil in this world but your negativity only allows it to grow.
This event is about the victims and the heroes who risked their lives to help. So how about this? How about, instead of sitting at your keyboard bashing everyone and everything you go out and make a positive difference in someone's life? Practice Random Acts of Kindness. Volunteer for a fundraiser for the victims. Thank a First Responder. If you want a different world- it's up to you, to me, to all of us to stop complaining and do something about it.
I leave you with a quote from Gandhi: "Be the change you wish to see in this world."
Sincerely,
Me
Of course, the coverage has been crazy. I don't know where you are, but here in Louisville, with Thunder over Louisville this weekend and the Derby coming up in two weeks there has been a lot of conversation as to what measures should be taken to ensure that this doesn't happen here. In addition, every newspaper, television station and internet news venue has been updating every few hours any information coming out of Boston. Feeling very invested, I have been reading a LOT of stories. The problem with that is that I also read the comments. I usually find it very interesting to see what my fellow man has to say about big stories. This time, quite honestly, many-many-many of the comments have turned my stomach. If I were to go on about all of my issues with the things that come out of people's mouths (fingertips?) it would take us a week so instead I will just put here an open letter to all of them at once:
Dear Person Commenting on the Boston Marathon Bombing:
I have read your comments on the news stories and I believe that many of you are incredibly confused. This event left three people (so far) dead, over a dozen missing limbs and almost 200 injured right here on our own soil. Additionally, thousands of men, women and children will be emotionally scarred for a very long time. During this we have also seen the best of people, coming together to help their fellow man. So please let me break this down for you.
This is not about your political agenda.
This is not about your gun rights.
This is not about your religious views.
This is not about your bigotry.
This is not about YOU!
. I don't care what you think about the President. I don't care what you think about being able to carry a gun. I don't care what you think about your God's vengeance. I don't care what you think about this/that or another race. Your negativity and hatred are the root of all of this. If you and people like you weren't so quick to open your mouth and spew your venom maybe, just maybe, people would actually get along better and there would be less of an inclination to cause such mass carnage and chaos. Yes, there is evil in this world but your negativity only allows it to grow.
This event is about the victims and the heroes who risked their lives to help. So how about this? How about, instead of sitting at your keyboard bashing everyone and everything you go out and make a positive difference in someone's life? Practice Random Acts of Kindness. Volunteer for a fundraiser for the victims. Thank a First Responder. If you want a different world- it's up to you, to me, to all of us to stop complaining and do something about it.
I leave you with a quote from Gandhi: "Be the change you wish to see in this world."
Sincerely,
Me
4 comments:
Nicely said.
Thanks Adrienne. :-)
Nicely said. Some people are just negative about everything.
So very true.
Post a Comment