In the last post, I talked about the value of not rushing to judgment; the point was nicely underscored by how the two suspects-one now dead the other on the run-are neither domestic Right wingers or from Iran or Afghanistan but actually from Chechnya.
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2013/04/in-boston-marathon-bombings-we-learn.html
For the most part as I and others have noted, the response to Boston has been very positive. Heather Hurlburt has a nice piece on this-she's a former Clinton speechwriter and currently the executive director of the National Security Network.
"Dear America:
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2013/04/in-boston-marathon-bombings-we-learn.html
For the most part as I and others have noted, the response to Boston has been very positive. Heather Hurlburt has a nice piece on this-she's a former Clinton speechwriter and currently the executive director of the National Security Network.
"Dear America:
"Forgive the metaphor, but the process of sorting out, living through, mourning and exacting justice for a terror attack is more than a little bit like ... a marathon. You came through Monday with flying colors, in a new personal best. But remember, this was only mile one."
"Let's review. We don't know who planted those explosive devices, but, as former West Point academic Brian Fishman reminds us, we know what those who resort to terror's indiscriminate violence want:
Terrorists kill for two basic reasons: They want to disrupt and destroy institutions or symbols of a political order they despise and they want to intimidate people not touched by the attack directly. For years, bombs have been the most useful tool to achieve both goals: They were the best way to kill a large number of people and get a lot of media attention.
"So how did our symbols fare today? Boston Marathon – finished, with runners knocked over, getting up to complete the course, and pledging they'd be back. First responders – government's first representatives at any crisis – ran like heroes into the smoke, and received kudos, on tax day no less, for their work on our behalf."
See also this link for a good look on how not to respond to a tragedy like a terrorist attack.
As she says, for the most part we responded very well and have not give the terrorists what they want: that we sow divisions.
"So what about sowing fear and division among the rest of us, terrorists' other goal?"
"Americans of every political stripe have been calling out speculation and scapegoating as fast as it happens. Bostonians of every faith and race have come together to mourn their losses and celebrate their heroes. Maybe the attacker or attackers, whomever they are, didn't know Boston's difficult history of race and religious relations, maybe they did – but for those of us who do, this unity is especially beautiful to see."
"That's pretty good for mile one. But we have so many hard miles ahead. Not turning on each other, or our institutions, or our own freedoms, whatever the truth behind these terrible attacks proves to be… can we keep it up?"
I think we can. However, the absurd use of these attacks as a crutch against immigration reform is disappointing.
"Some on the right are already pouncing on the news to cast doubt on the desirability of immigration reform. This morning, Ann Coulter Tweeted:
It’s too bad Suspect # 1 won’t be able to be legalized by Marco Rubio, now.
"Bryan J. Fisher is a conservative radio host who rails about the “amnesty” that Senator Marco Rubio — one of the Gang of Eight Senators – supposedly supports in the form of immigration reform. Fischer Tweeted the following in response to today’s news out of Boston:
I think we can safely say that Rubio’s amnesty plan is DOA. And should be. Time to tighten, not loosen, immigration policy.
"Meanwhile, over at the Washington Examiner, Conn Carroll, a Rubio critic and immigration reform skeptic, wrote that we still don’t know a good deal about the two brothers, adding that today’s planned Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the new immigration reform proposal should be delayed. “Today is not the day for an immigration hearing,” Carroll concluded.
To be sure to speak of being disappointed by Ann Coulter is kind of an oxymoron. How could you expect anything from her; this is someone who once attacked a Vietnam vet in a wheelchair as a coward.
Sargent wonders if other conservatives will use this in a systematic attack on immigration reform. The anti immigration forces are quite determined. However, let's hope that most of them will have the taste not to go here. I don't think this meme will do anything to give their opposition anything that will make anyone think they represent anything every worth listening to.
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