April 15th marks the one year anniversary of the bombings
at the Boston Marathon. It has been a
long year of recovery for the city of Boston and the victims of the
bombing.
The Boston Marathon is the oldest large city marathon in the
world. It is held on the third Monday in
April each year, which is Patriot’s Day, a Massachusetts state holiday. The day
commemorates the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the first battle of the
American Revolution. Since its inception
118 years ago, the marathon has grown in stature and reputation.
Last year 2 Chechen brothers turned the marathon and the
city into a disaster by planting two homemade explosives near the finish
line. At 2:49 pm as runners were
approaching the finish line two explosions 12 seconds and 210 yards apart were detonated
causing 3 deaths and 264 injuries. Of
the 264 injuries, 14 resulted in amputation.
It was a sad day for Boston and for the United States as we fell victim
to another 
In the days following, the stories of the incredible
selflessness of first responders and ordinary citizens running into the chaos to
help the injured demonstrated the resiliency of Bostonians. The city branded itself “Boston Strong”
refusing to give in to the terror and fear.
Not only was Boston Strong, but help came from all sorts of places in
the form of money and medical assistance.
The mayor help create the One Fund Boston to provide
financial assistance to the victims and their families. After the first week, crowd funding websites
raised over $2 million. On May 30th
various artists including Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffett, and Jason Aldean played at
the Boston Strong Concert with all proceeds going directly to One Fund
Boston. One Fund Boston received $69.8
million to directly aid the victims and their families.
It is a bitter sweet week in Boston as they prepare for the 2014
Boston Marathon on April 21st.
While it will be a great sense of pride for the city to push forward
with the event, it is also impossible to plan and participate without recalling
the horror of the prior year’s event. The
stories have been remember and honored in various special programs. Below is a clip from an ESPN E60 Program
called “Dream On”.
This year the marathon will have 36,000 participants (which
is 10,000 more than any previous year).
What are your ideas about ways to reduce and eliminate
terrorism in the world? If you could,
would you run in this year’s marathon? Why or why not? Is there anything you would like to say to
the participants of this year’s marathon?
I would try to eliminate terrorism in many ways. I would try to make peace around the world. I have no actual way. I would run in this years Marathon. As an athlete you don't quit because you might be endanger. Avenge last years marathoner is what i would say to them.
ReplyDeleteDecreasing the amount of terrorism around the world is difficult to do. I would try to improve education in certain areas of the world. Terrorist attacks could happen because of what the terrorist was taught in school. For example, there are a few countries that don't like the United States. Their schools teach their students that America is a terrible, horrible country; this could be what drives them to terrorize the country. Another reason is because the terrorist doesn't agree with the country's decisions for the economy or with world-wide issues. There is not much we could do about that except for electing a president who will try to look at a conflict through different perspectives and will make decisions that he/she thinks would benefit everyone. I would run in this year's marathon to show that I am not afraid of a group of terrorists and that if another attack were to happen this year, I would stay and help those in need instead of fleeing in fear. I would say to the participants running in the marathon this year,"Stay strong; no matter what happens, someone will always have your back."
ReplyDeleteAttempting to make terrorism not happen as much is very difficult. The first thing we would need to do is eliminate or decrease the amount of people that do't like us and the second thing I really have no clue. Yes but I have friends with me and I want to make it not a race well still a race but a social get to together place. I would do that to make it more fun and I would run for the people who died and got hurt. I would like to say good job for supporting the marathon and the people.
ReplyDeleteEnding terrorism isn't easy, and it may not be gone completely. There might be some small acts of terrorism going on that we won't know about. I don't have an exact idea on how to end terrorism since in school we learn about how other countries don't actually like our country. Sure, that may be normal, but it isn't good. We can't stop them from changing their minds about America, but a great president who is also a good problem solver may help our country get through times of terrorism. I would run in this year's Boston Marathon if I could because you can't let fear consume you and hold you back from doing things you want. If everyone has that same mentality, it would show that our country can bounce back from horrible things and achieve something together. To this years participants, I would say that they are doing an incredible thing and being very brave in running the marathon. Whether or not, they are also i influencing others to make a decision on whether or not they are going to run in the marathon.
ReplyDeleteThere are many ways you can try destroy terrorism in the world but it's a long way from now because our situation with the Muslims isn't the best, and if you think that taking away guns is going to help it will not because the people trying to hurt us will get them one way or another, or they could just use a kitchen knife. It's not the weapon that's hurting the people it is the action that is hurting the people. But the real question is why? People do terrorism to people who they don't like it's to strike fear into their minds. The only true way to eliminate terrorism is to show people that you aren't that bad or scary. Personally I feel that the U.S. is trying to police the world to much and look at us about every Middle Eastern country hates the U.S. But the truth is that they don't it's certain kinds of people that do for example the Talaban try to tell the people that we are the threat and the source of all evil. This is creating a psychological effect on their brain that we are the real bad guys when they weren't even shown what we helped them with. If I could run the marathon this year I would defiantly even though I don't like running. I would because it shows that you believe that your country can stand up stronger for the future of our country. I would like to say that all of the people involved in this marathon are proud of what we have accomplished and how we abolish fear in our country. You are true inspiration for the future.
ReplyDelete~Emile M. 7th
I don't think we can end terrorism completely, but there are some small things we can do to help reduce it. If the terrorists think they are scaring us and ripping our nation apart by doing these terrible acts, that is wrong. Showing them that we can bounce back from these tragedies shows them that we are strong, and that could end a small amount of terrorism. Yes, I would run this year's Boston Marathon. I would run it every year if I had the chance. I would like to say to the participants running the marathon this year is that they are an inspiration to the next generation and that they are all very brave to run it after what happened. I'm proud of them.
ReplyDeleteEnding terrorism is very hard I believe. I don't think that you can end it, but you can certainly reduce it. One way to reduce it is to stay strong. The terrorists want you to break down and be sad, but you have to show them that you can overcome horrible things if we all stick together. Yes, if I could run the marathon I would. I would because I want to run in memory of the people who died and I would want to finish the race for them. I would like to say that you are a true inspiration to our country. I would also like to tell them to stay strong and run for the people who passed.
ReplyDeleteI think that people should except that other people have other beliefs and that you can't just kill someone because they have different beliefs about stuff. I would definitely want to run this year's marathon. I would get a team together and we would run it in memory of those killed last year. It was such a big and unforeseen tragedy that we need to remember. I would say " Be thankful for your life but remember those who can't."
ReplyDeleteTo reduce terrorism we have to be friends with the people who did to us and show that we except their ways but don't follow their ways. Yes I would run the Boston Marathon just to show that I support everybody that was injured and killed. If I got to see them then I would say that I was sorry and to not give up.
ReplyDeleteTo reduce tourism we would have to come together and stop fighting with each other, to start with. Live in the Present. We would also need to form many anti-terrisiom organizations and let every one know what is going on. Yes, in support of all those innocent citizens who lost there lives with no say, it would be my patriotic right to run that marathon for everyone. Yes, thank You for your support and just by running this marathon you are changing someones life. Thank You.
ReplyDeleteEnding terrorism is a very difficult task to completely accomplish. We can reduce terrorism by doing our part by being as kind as possible to the other countries to reduce the "threat" our country produces. Something our country can do when we get attacked, is to get over our sadness and worry as fast as possible. The terrorists want us to be scared; but if we keep staying strong when these people attack us, they will eventually get tired of fighting us and move on to another country. I would love to run in the Boston Marathon. I would run it out of respect for all the families who suffered from last year's bombing. If I had the chance to speak with the participants of the Boston Marathon, I would tell them how brave they were and how inspirational they were to our country. I would thank them for running in the places of the dead and ending the race for them.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how I would eliminate terrorism. There are a lot of terrorists, and they are all very hard to find. But world peace is a good way to stop terrorism.
ReplyDeleteIf I could, I definitely would run in the Boston Marathon. It just sounds like a fun thing to do, and I would do it for those who can no longer run it because of terrorists.
What I would say to this years participants would be, "Run strong. Run hard. Do it for those who can't."
I don't think we can get to an end of terrorism but there are ways to reduce it. If more people are educated about the world and it's many wonderful people than I believe others would not want to go in and terrorize or kill. I would defiantly run in this years marathon to show my support for all the people that have lost someone in terrorist attacks. If you are running in this years marathon please remember the people hurt and lost. I will pray for all of you.
ReplyDeleteTerrorism is caused by people who want to cause fear in others and, like it says in the name, terror. To stop terrorism, you have to stop the fear that is caused by it. Without the reaction, there is no reason to do acts of terror. To stop terrorism we need to help each other, and stay strong, not afraid. Yes! I would definitely run in this year’s marathon to support the people that lost their lives in last year’s Boston Marathon bombing. It would be fun and for a great cause. To the participants this year, I would like to say thank you for showing your support. Having you participate this year shows that we are not afraid, and can overcome terrorism.
ReplyDeleteIf You eliminate the reason to fear than there would be no more terrorism/ If you cant get a reaction why would you do it? I would run if i had the cahnce because it is a one time opportunity most of the time and those dont come everyday.I say that all of them are very brave and im proud there aer people like them in this world.
ReplyDeleteIf you could eliminate the amount of tourism in the I would try different things. One in which I would try and gather people to talk about their religion and have the other people listen and not say anything. If I could, I would run because if I start to reduce the terrorism its less likely for something to happen. I would say, If you want to run, run because you shouldn't be afraid to run a marathon. That's not how we need to live. Run even with fear telling you not to.
ReplyDeleteI think that people need to find out whats wrong in the world and fix it in order to eliminate terrorism. If everyone works together and makes it so people have no need to act violently to get a reaction. I would have if I could've. I would've run in honor of the innocent people that died last year. What happened last year changed Boston forever, it changed all of America forever. To the people who are running this year in the marathon, "You all have a great deal of heart and are very brave and considerate to the victims of the bombing last year. Boston is not strong anymore...it's "Boston Strong."
ReplyDeleteI think that we should buff the technology that the police can use to prevent bombings like this. It might be a long way off, but I think it would help a lot. I would like to run the the marathon to show that I am proud to be American. I would like to tell all the runners that they are brave and awesome.
ReplyDeleteI think that terrorism should not be a thing to start with, without terrorism the world would be much safer than it is right now. After terrorist attacks the country becomes actually stronger than it was before the attack. The attack makes the community come together even though it would be better if they didn't happen. If I could run in the marathon I would. I would do anything to support the community that has been effected by terrorists. I would tell them that they are amazing people.
ReplyDeleteI think we should try harder to find and arrest the terrorist before they have a chance to plant and destroy things with bombs to cause terror. I would do it but I would do it to remind terrorist that terror does not work. I would tell them that they are brave to run in the marathon. I think is cool how people don't care if there is terrorist and it doesn't stop them.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that terrorism can be ended completely but there are ways to reduce terrorism. One way to reduce terrorism is to stay strong and to never give up. A terrorist will try to make people sad and hurt but to fight against it we have to keep going and not be afraid. Yes, if i could i would run in the marathon this year to show terrorist that we never give up and to run in memory of the people who died or were injured last year at the Boston Marathon. I would like to tell the people that ran in the marathon this year that they are brave and it was very nice of them to run in memory of those who were hurt or killed last year.
ReplyDeleteTerrorism can definitely not be destroyed completely, but small acts are the key to reducing it. You cant just go around finding all the terrorists in the world and taking them into the custody of the police because sooner or later another is going to pop up and do something crazy. The most recent terrorist attacks seem to be the work of foreign extremists. I think the one obvious solution is to educate the foreign countries and get it into their heads that terrorism is wrong and you will pay. Educating the young people of the world is one of the only ways to reduce the number of terrorist attacks. They're the next generation, and once their education opportunity is gone, its gone.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we can ever get rid of terrorism completely, but I think we can try to reduce it. One way is to advocate people and tell them how much terrorism can hurt and bring pain to a country. Terrorism tears countries apart and makes them feel pain, suffering, and loss. Another way is to strengthen the community. With everyone in the community helping to build up hope and happiness, terrorism is less likely to happen. If I could have, I would have run the Boston Marathon to show that terrorism cannot stop a country from running for those we love. All those who ran the Boston Marathon this year showed that no matter what someone does to our country, the people of that country can always bounce back and try to return the love to all those who are hurting in this time. I would tell those people who ran that it doesn't matter what their time was, finishing the race and remembering last year's tragedy is enough to show their support and love to the USA and the families of the lost and injured.
ReplyDeleteBig acts Start small. We can never get rid of evil and meanness, but we can give support to victims and try to reach out to educate the folks that are doing the hurting. Most terrorist completely believe in what they are doing. If we can educate for reasons why this is wrong we could perhaps decrease terrorism. Everyone has different points of view and some refuse to change their minds. We can never make someone think the same as us, and if we did- life would be totally boring. I want to tell those in the Marathon and their families how much they are loved. Dream on Stay Strong
ReplyDeleteLike Zoe said, you can't totally get rid of terrorism, let alone fix it, but you can discourage it and make more allies. More allies=more peace, and more
ReplyDeletePeace=less terorists/terrorism. I would definitely run in this years marathin
ReplyDeleteMarathon for remeberance of those who died last year and those who were injured or participated. I would like to say stay strong and God bless you all
ReplyDeleteI think that if every one helped victims of harm, that less and less terrorism attacks would happen. If I cold yes I would run this years marathon. I would run because I know that the people who lost family members will need all the help and support that they can get, I would try my best to help support them. I would tell them never loose hope, and always have faith. And to "Dream on"
ReplyDeletethanks Mr. Grant
ReplyDeleteObviously ending terrorism is a difficult thing to end, seeing that we still have terrorist in our world. I don't think that you can end it, but you can certainly reduce it. One way to reduce it is to stay strong. The terrorists want you to break down and begin to be afraid of them, but you have to show them that you can overcome anything that they put in your way. Yes, if I could run the marathon this year most definitely. I would because I want to run in memory of the people who died and I would want to finish the race for them.
ReplyDeleteYou cant really stop someone from bombing a place or running their planes into buildings, but you could have a strong security system and good flexible community that wont take any blasting from no other country. If I could I would because I really hate tourism because when the two planes hit the Twin Towers my Uncle was about 2 or 3 miles away from the accident and we couldn't get in-touch with him till the next day which scared my family very badly. I would tell them to keep their heads high and feel proud of what their doing.
ReplyDeleteYou cant end terrorism but you can help prevent it. Some ways are to educate people about others with different believes and religions. Terrorism is mainly fear of other people who aren't the same as us. People become scared because they think that people with different believes will try to over power them and hurt them. By educating people they can learn how to accept others. If I could run the marathon I would in memory of those who died in the bombing. I would say good luck to this years participants.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a very small measure, SECURITY. See people these days get away with stuff when they should be punished. Ya I think I would run this year. Because it would show that our country is strong. I would on tell them to stay strong and be confident.
ReplyDeleteI think one thing to do ids crack down on security. Also to have the people to watch for suspicious behavior. If I could run in the marathon this year I would because to me that is showing my pride for my country. Also I think it gives people that lost hope to find it again. What I would say ti the people running in it this year would be show them that we don't back down and that we are strong and wont give up.
ReplyDeleteI think that we need to do better security checks. Also to tell people to not be afraid to tell someone about suspicious behavior. Yes, because it would show humongous pride in my country. Also it would show great strength in our country. I would tell them to stay strong and not lose hope.
ReplyDeleteMy way to eliminate terrorism would be to keep fighting in war against the terrorists until they surrender. A quick and easy way would be nuclear war. I would definitely run in this years marathon because I want to support the people who died last year. Run for the dead is what I would say to them.
ReplyDeleteWays to reduce terrorism in this country would to be have security checks done to everybody that enters our country and participates in major events. Yes, I would run in this year's marathon because I would try to run it with my aunt who ran the one last year. She was on a subway when the bombs went off. The only that i would like to say to this year;s participants is congrats!
ReplyDeleteTo reduce terrorism in the world is to do better security checks. Like for whoever is participating in a big known event and for people who are coming in and out of our country. Also, maybe add more security cameras so we could see if there is any weird or suspicious behavior. I would participate in this year's marathon because we can't live our lives in fear. We can't always think of the "what ifs." And it would be nice to run in memory for those who died last year. One thing I would like to say to this year's contestants is to stay strong and good luck.
ReplyDeleteI think that 1 way to eliminate terrorism is when you are going to a public event that they put everyone through a metal detector and pat you down. Number 2 is that all buildings and events are required to have security cameras to watch everyone and the NSC can log on and watch. Number 3 is that passwords to security can be updated and you could have a line of them you have to get to accesses the control. I would run the Boston Marathon this year because they will take security very seriously this year and will be hard to enter with anything bad. If I could I would say good luck to all of them, and forget about lasts year stay strong.
ReplyDelete