I am sorry that there were bombings in Boston this week and that people were killed, injured and scared out of their minds. Totally sucks. Oh, humanity you sneaky snake. I actually had two friends and three acquaintances in Boston for their marathon that day. My friends saw the second explosion and I am so glad that they were not hurt. I watched the news unfold holding my breath and clutching my throat just like everyone else.
Today my Facebook "news-feed" is filled with celebrations that one suspect has been apprehended and two others killed in the manhunt that put a city on lock-down just for them. Those celebrations seem premature and misplaced.
First: I did not realize we were no longer innocent until proven guilty. Second: now that Dzhokar Tsarnaev is in custody they want to take away his right to an attorney and the right to remain silent because that would be too much of a hassle. Senators McCain and Graham issued a statement saying "the last thing we want him to do is remain silent." No fucking shit. The ideal suspect in any case is a chatty one. That doesn't mean we take away someone's rights. Should we also torture him, Senators? To ensure that justice is served? What means are you willing to pursue in order to get the end you desire? Third: Would we be talking this way if the suspects (dead and alive....) were whiter? More "American" looking? Are we really that gross? Last: Can we even bear to look in the mirror and question ourselves about U.S. government/military actions abroad? What is our death toll? We can be certain it is greater than "three killed and dozens more injured."
I am not interested in being part of a jeering, cheering crowd at the base of any gallows. I do not want to sit back and rest assured that "America" is now "safe" and that "justice" has been served because most likely neither is nor will be true.
