I am really troubled by the recent tragedy that took place in Boston, Mass. The Boston Marathon is a cultural tradition. Every year over 20,000 runners participate in the 26.2 mile run. It took just a few seconds to turn this great event into a day of horror. As a positive parent there is no greater fear than losing a child. Especially at an event that celebrates life. There were 4 people who lost their lives as a result of the actions by 2 men.

Brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlane Tsarnaev set off two bombs near the finish line of the marathon. There is talk that they became radicalized and developed a strong hatred for the country that took them in. They were originally from Chechnya, a war torn country located in southern Russia.

It’s hard to imagine what these two monsters were thinking about. Were they seeking revenge against the United States? Did they think that destroying the lives of innocent people would give them retribution?

To make matters worse it seemed that the plan the two had devised was not complete. They had the first part together in that they seemed to know where they were placing the bombs and who they wanted to attack but they had no getaway plan. Did they plan to set off more bombs? Or even more insane did they think they could pull off the greatest crime in Boston history and return to their normal lives?

In this day and age it’s hard to get away with anything. Obviously these two didn’t watch a lot of television. In almost all the popular shows the criminal gets caught or at least identified from security or cell phone cameras. There are cameras everywhere.  All these guys had to do was spend at least one night watching the news.  They would have seen just how easy it is to get caught. Maybe they wanted to get caught?

The other thing that was underestimated by these two madmen was that law enforcement officials don’t ever give up. It may take some time but these protectors of society always get their man/woman. I was very happy when after a few days law enforcement released pictures of the two.

As a result of their pursuit one is dead and the other is in serious condition at a local hospital. Perhaps he will eventually supply the world with answers it desires.

As a positive parent I can imagine how the parents of the four who died are feeling. Every parent thinks their kids will outlive them. Their worlds have been turned inside out. I know there are no answers that will ease the pain these parents feel.

These positive parents must also not give up. They must find a way to continue the legacy of their children.

It seems that the whole purpose of terrorism is to put fear in minds of the people that are attacked.  It’s unfortunate that these deliverers of destruction fail to take notes on what really happens. In this instance people were running to the disaster not away from it. It’s heartwarming to see that people stopped what they were doing to help out where they could. Many more lives were saved as a result of these courageous people. They did not give up.

This act of terror was perpetrated by two that were members of a certain ethnic group. It would be easy to single out this group and say that all it’s’ members have terrorists thoughts. That would be unfair.

We have to separate the choices made by a few from the ethnic groups they say they are a part of. We cannot give up on those that had nothing to do with these types of acts.

For example it would be unfair to link all Caucasian people for the acts of the Ku Klux Klan. These were radicalized Americans who terrorized all who were not like them. They were not much different from their Middle Eastern cousins in that they wore masks and attacked innocent civilians.

There was no need for Krystle Campbell, Martin Richard, Lingzi Lu and Sean Collier to lose their lives. They had promising futures. One of the four was only 8 years old. What did he do?

It is important that we let the world know that America will not give up its’ freedoms. We will not let anyone or any group send us into the kind of fear that will cause us to abandon the life that we cherish.

Instead these people or groups will see us respond. We will first help those that are affected and we will second to not give up on bringing those who perform these kinds of acts to justice.

I’m the guy whose glass is always ½ full.

I LOVE BEING A DAD!!