Following episodes of terrorism, as occurred at the Boston Marathon yesterday, we immediately empathize with those caught up in the tragedy. In an effort to allay our own fear, we seek every detail of the event, glued to television and online reports, hoping to somehow understand the reason for the act and to learn that progress is being made toward arresting those responsible for the tragedy.
Our first instinct is to blame groups known to employ terrorism in order to advance their agendas. As a result, we are quick to focus on individuals who, based on their race or nationality, invite suspicion. In addition, we look for others to blame, including public officials who, in our minds, might have done more to prevent the tragedy. While, in a free society, absolute protection from determined terrorists is impossible, we want to know that security failures somehow enabled the horrendous act.
Finally, and most tragic of all, we begin to accept limitations on our freedom that might prevent such events in the future. While certain security measures have become a necessary part of modern life, a willingness to alter our lives and our social traditions in response to terrorism acknowledges its effectiveness and encourages its use. As difficult as it may seem in the wake of this most recent tragedy, our best protection is to carry on with life, undaunted by the tool of fear.
