Nancy Chen
Nancy Chen

We’ve looked for quotes about violence and about terrorism that would shed some light on what happened in Boston yesterday… find some good, make us feel better. The only thing we could think to do is bear witness, hold those who were so gravely hurt in our hearts, keep a vigil…which we will today.

This image was tweeted by Reporter Nancy Chen; it was writen on the sidewalk outside the home of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old who was killed in the Boston Marathon bombing yesterday.

It was what we meant when we posted an image last night of an ancient Buddha’s hand and some flowers. Peace is what it said to us, and somewhere, in the midst of all, the possibility of healing. One reader commented that she thought it bordered on bad taste: “People lost limbs yesterday, suffered terrible burns. That photo is definitely bordering bad taste.” We are horrified that something we’d seen as hopeful might be the opposite at such a time as this. We had not viewed it through that other lens.

Sally Schneider
Sally Schneider

We are grateful to know of that other view. And for the quote sent in by another reader from the Dalai Lama:

I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.– Dalai Lama

…and this from David Saltman:

buddha's hand boston

Top image via BoingBoing; flower photo behind the Buddha by Ellen Silverman;  quote via Swiss-Miss

 

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4 replies on “for boston (redux)

  1. Seriously? People lost limbs yesterday, suffered terrible burns. That photo is definitely bordering bad taste.

  2. “I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.”
    – Dalai Lama
    (as seen this morning on SwissMiss)

  3. I was unaware of this vicious act of terrorism until this morning, when opened up your email and saw this post. I mourn for the innocent people harmed, and cannot comprehend how someone could commit such a thing. It feels like some basic tenet about what it is to be human has been violated.

  4. Natasha, my heart sank with the constrictive energy of your words – fear? anger? both? i could not help but wonder if there was a kinder vibration – a more open one – that made for the “benefit of the doubt” – or is this event just too horrific that it calls for a swift and cutting perspective. just to say, that i appreciated the peaceful hug, reminder, hope of the photos posted – and also appreciate your alternative point of view…i will explore its vibration in my heart. one short note about this blog for now – from here, it is consistently inviting, inclusive and humble at the very least.

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