Newsworthy Writing

In light of the recent events that happened in the middle of the Boston marathon I thought that I might reflect some thoughts on this country and being an almost 30 year old living here.

Last week I heard of the bombings on Monday and showed little interest in them until about mid-day Thursday. I was aware, but had not read up on them or their effects until later in the week when I had some time.

It was then that I noticed that the news (not our local news) but every other locally, and nationally syndicated television and radio program had updates on the suspected bombers and the latest details into their private lives made public investigation.

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It wasn’t until Friday that I got the gist of it all. I was visiting a friend in the hospital and it was on almost every channel in her room. We both sat and watched as the search was on for a 19 year old student that was wanted in relation to the bombings. His brother had been shot in what the police called a “shoot out” the night before and he was said to have escaped.

During the three or so hours I sat there I wondered what had brought on such actions. I, like most of the nation, was shocked, but not surprised and certainly didn’t jump at the chance to get out and help as Boston seemed worlds away.

It wasn’t until a friend that I met while working at Walt Disney World sent me a picture message that made the news a reality.

He lived in Watertown and the picture he showed was identical to that on tv. In his picture, the view was from his condo looking down where numerous men and women in uniform carrying heavy artillery lined the streets in search of the bombing suspects. This photo was more real to me than anything I’d seen on tv. I learned that this made me relate to the situation more, and take it more seriously.

Throughout that afternoon and evening I kept the television on as I got ready for work that night. I watched countless information over and over again.

Once in the news cast I was watching there was breaking news of houses destroyed of what was being called a tornado with winds as strong as 115 miles per hour. That town that broke international news was that of the damage in the small town of Mansfield, just 20 minutes up the road where some Jasper residents live.

I was shook by this revelation and took to calling the people I knew in that vicinity. Luckily there were few at home during this time, and only one person was injured.

It was now that I stopped what I was doing to pray. I prayed for those in Boston hurt, and dead, and prayed for the homeowners who had to begin to pick up the pieces of their homes. I also prayed to be more proactive rather than the desensitized person with little to no reaction, as if this type of thing was acceptable.

I vowed then to stop seeing this world as a place where nothing seems to shock us into changing it for the better.