Monday’s tragedy at the Boston Marathon wasn’t happenstance.
It wasn’t an anomaly, either.
The events that transpired were carried out with cruel, unjust intentions and have certainly seemed to augment the idea that Americans aren’t safe, even when they think they are.
Leisure activities once served as an avenue a person could take to “get away” in difficult or stressful times. But those stress remedies are becoming a target of terror, and it’s contributed to the creation of a culture of violence in society.
The movie theater shootings in Aurora, Colo. and Monday’s events – two cases in under a year – validate that notion. Both tragedies are examples of cold terror and prove that taking solace in leisure time is becoming unrealistic, even unsafe.
Aside from the patent circumstances these events carry, an unfortunate blemish that accompanies times like these is the frightened disposition that Americans migrate to. Drowning in the idea that safety is unrealistic, they begin to live their lives in fear.
And why shouldn’t they?
James Holmes killed 12 people and injured 58 others in Aurora. The City Grille shooting in Buffalo left four dead in 2010. The merciless individuals that dictated Monday’s events killed three, including an 8-year-old boy, and injured 152 others (figures as of Tuesday morning).
These are premeditated acts victimizing innocent people who are just trying to live their life to its fullest by taking part in leisure activity – activity that American people should take comfort in enjoying.
The motives remain generally unclear, but the actions were undoubtedly crafted with vicious hands. And those hands keep waving and have been for a long time.
Acts of terror take place all over the world – even in Buffalo. Cheektowaga alone has played host to shootings at malls, bowling alleys and other entertainment venues.
One could argue that these forums are targeted because of the sheer number of people they attract. But it can also be argued that violence is acted upon individuals taking part in leisure activity because that’s when they’re especially innocent and at their most vulnerable.
In the past, people would cope with a difficult situation by turning to their personal interests. They would attend or participate in the Boston Marathon. They would go to the movies. It helped to alleviate stress and provide a sense of security in times it was needed.
But with every attack on innocent people leisurely going about their day, that blanket of security is being pulled off.
Under it is a society afraid to communicate, engage in social activity and ultimately live.
And that’s a shame.