Terrorists who believe that violence and fear are effective means to assault the ramparts of American liberty are greatly mistaken. As we approach Thanksgiving, my thoughts return to April 15, 2013 when two pressure cooker bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon killing three people and injuring 264 others. I had just returned home from teaching that Monday when I saw the first video clips on the national news. They kept replaying the explosion over and over, and I was particularly dismayed by the image of seventy-eight-year old Bill Iffrig who crumpled onto the ground due to the shock of the blast. I prayed that my friends who had run the race were safe.
Although I felt incredulous, wondering how this could happen at an event that celebrates life, and fearful, thinking perhaps this was only the beginning of a new wave of attacks on Americans, there was something deeper inside that steadied me. I had witnessed this same deep anchor in my father when he told me his stories of the valiant First Marine Division as they fought their way across the Pacific during World War II. I'm sure it served as a bedrock of truth for our Founding Fathers when they declared their independence from England and made great sacrifices to win that freedom.
These truths upon which our country was founded are not debatable. The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are self-evident to people who have tasted freedom and valued equality. These are the eternal principles that inspire integrity, compassion, and courage rather than the deception, hatred, and cowardice that corrupt the character of those who resort to acts of terrorism.
The day after the bombings I ran into Ed L., a fellow teacher and runner. We had gone on many training runs in the past and had both qualified for Boston years ago but never followed through and entered the race. "Now, more than ever," Ed said, "I want to want to qualify for Boston and go run the race. We need to let the world know that these cowards can't scare us away."
I agreed. Clearly, Ed had built the foundation of his life on those same principles. Terrorists just don't get it. You can not tear them from us, erase them from our hearts, or even blow them up with home-made bombs or weapons of mass destruction. They are eternal, unchanging, immutable. I live in a nation where these truths have been taught to me since my childhood. For that I am truly thankful. Hopefully, one day both Ed and I will line up at the Boston starting line. If so, we will run not to accomplish some longstanding personal goal, but rather . . . for freedom.
Thanks for sharing this post,
Joe C. Ellis
If you would like a free download of my latest novel, The Old Man and the Marathon click on the link below:
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