Congreesman Rubio from New York stated on Sunday, April 14, that a national conversation about violence is needed. On Monday, I believe the truth of that statement was demonstrated by the bombing at the Boston Marathon. If it proves to be an act of revenge by a foriegner, it will seem more understandable to me than if it is shown to be an act of domestic terrorism. If one was a disgruntled taxpayer, why not bomb the IRS rather than the Boston Marathon?
Regardless of who is responsible, it was an act of cowardice as the President noted. It was also bullying. Are such acts inevitable? Is violent bullying in this country the natural result of a nation that was concieved by opposing the bullying British Empire and later expanded by bullying of native Americans and African slaves? Is today's violence related to each wave of foriegn immigrants being bullied by their predecessors, and in turn, bullying the next wave of immigrants?
We give lip service in this country to the principle of freedom. One who is being bullied in any way, shape or form, cannot and is not free. As long as bullying is tolerated in this country, violence will continue and the freedom of many individuals will be threatened.
It is now April 22, Earth Day. Before I celebrate the day by picking up litter from the park, I want to add to my reaction to the Boston Marathon bombing. History or time or news people may disagree with my explanation of the "why". Repeatedly I hear the expression "senseless act". Maybe, maybe not. Drive-by shootings of strangers on the streets make less sense to me than the Bosyon bombing. Two young Moslem men having lived in this country for a number of years, trying to fit in and being somewhat successful at that, suddenly realize that they had not been remaining true to their religion. Blaming American culture for having been lured away from a closer walk with Allah would not be a mature, insightful reaction. On the other hand, how many young people in this society react sensibly, maturally,insightfully when encountering serious problems in their lives? Planting bombs and shooting innocent people is probably the exact opposite of accountable or responsible behavior. But senseless? Many, if not most, Americans fail to comprehend the zealotry of true believers. There is a reason why some Moslems rail against Western culture, especially American culture. Christians like to think the United States is a Christian country. It isn't. American culture is secular. Most so called "Christians" don't follow the gospel teachings of Jesus. They may talk the talk and go to Church on Sundays and raise their families in nice clean houses, etc. The word Christian literally refers to one who follows Christ, that is, one who lives according to his teachings. If even the minority of the human population who profess to be Christian actually lived as Christians, we would have a much healthier world. That would require zealous behavior on the part of Christians.
To be religiously zealous in a secular materialistic society which worships Mammon has got to be a challenge if one is a Moslem, a Jew, or a Christian. And for young people with their desire to "fit in", it's got to be even harder. To suddenly realize that you have allowed yourself to be separated from a closer relationship with your Creator due to the influence of the culture in which you live may or may not be a big deal. I suggest it seemed a big deal to the Boston bombers and that their terror spree may have been a sort of religious jihad effort to punish the secular American culture. Immature. Yes. Irresponsible. Certainly. Probably mostly counterproductive since not a lot of Americans can understand that extreme degree of religious conviction, if that is what it was. Was the bombing wrong? Yes. But senseless? Incomprehensible? Not at all.
