Crossing the finish line is a moment of pride. It's a moment of accomplishment. And perhaps even more importantly, it's a moment of community. Twenty-six and two-tenths miles of dedication later, racers are greeted by a cheering crowd in which family members and friends stand.
Yesterday in Boston there was no celebration.
Two explosions shook the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three at the time this issue went to print and injuring over 130 others that we know of. The first blast exploded in the specter gallery near the finish line. Ten seconds later, a second blast erupted.
Though the culprit of the incident remains uncertain, the effect is undeniable. A day of celebration at one of the world's oldest and most prestigious marathons is now a day of grief, confusion and disappointment. An entire city was sent into chaos.
Ironically, these 23,000 runners and millions of spectators had not only gathered to run or watch a race; they'd also gathered to commemorate the Sandy Hook shooting this December.
When we read the news we were shocked and saddened. But one emotion we didn't feel was surprise. As of late, these events are nothing new. In the past year, 26 were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings and 12 were killed in the shooting at the Aurora, Colo. movie theater.
But this isn't just a recent trend. Our generation has encountered the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Columbine shooting and the Virginia Tech shooting, to name a few. We are so inundated with violence that it's easy to become numb. We grieve for a few days, but then we move on. And then it happens all over again several months later.
The only question that comes to mind: why? Why have we become a society so accustomed to violence? Why would someone commit an act like this? Why does humanity even have the capacity to behave this way? And why do these incidences continue to happen?
Our generation has seen so much, it's easy to become disillusioned. But, cliché as it may sound, these tragedies don't only allow us to see the depths of human malice; we can also see the depths of human good.
Encouraging tweets rolled out continuously and photos were posted on the Internet of people consoling one another. Boston residents offered racers orange juice and food. The slews of visitors are being offered places to stay. Hundreds of millions across the country are tuning in, congregating and mourning.
Hospitals in the area were overwhelmed by an outpouring of volunteers hoping to donate blood. The Red Cross sent out a message saying that due to the donations of people in the state of Massachusetts their blood banks had been filled and could not handle any more.
So before brushing off this tragedy as one in the numbers, pause. These racers deserve their moment.