Sitting in my Brandeis dorm room on lockdown due to the manhunt in Watertown, staring at an almost deserted main road, it is difficult to reconcile the emotions running through my head. I remind myself that the sadness, vulnerability, confusion, and anger I feel are entirely valid. Yet I also take pride in my University and the Boston metropolitan area that for the last four years, I've been privileged to call home. I admire the heroes at the Boston Marathon and those who are continuing to protect us during the violent aftermath even as I type. The press and social media's commentary on Boston's strength is completely warranted.
At the same time, I also need to confess another range of emotions. When I first followed the bombing, I hoped that it did not have origins somewhere overseas or connections to an international issue. As an International and Global Studies major, specifically a student of the Middle East, I know the potential implications. Although I am not Muslim, I share the sentiments of many who said, "Please don't be a Muslim."
Today, it appears that my worries have been realized. Evidence indicates that the suspects in the marathon bombing and the MIT shooting are Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, two Chechens who were living near Cambridge. If they are guilty, these men are terrorists and their actions must be condemned. However, these horrific events are likely part of a greater cycle of tragedy, suffering, and missed opportunities. As we recover, we would be wise to try to learn from them.
The weeks after September 11th, 2001 offer a cautionary tale. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, "Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, anti-Muslim hate violence skyrocketed some 1,600 percent." This phenomenon is already beginning in Boston. People searching for answers wrongfully accused a high school track runner of perpetrating the bombing, and a Muslim doctor was assaulted and harassed in its wake. Before the cleanup crews even began their work in Copley Square, the media already fixated on a "Saudi-looking man". Although these actions are rooted in fear and insecurity, they are cowardly and sensationalist, not courageous.
In a recent article, my professor, Eileen McNamara, explained that it is simplistic, and potentially even arrogant, to describe cities as resilient. She writes, "Cities are not resilient, people are." As the dust settles, now is the time to be strong as individuals and as a community through how we relate to one another.
Bostonians, in the upcoming challenging weeks, let's prove how resilient we are by not only responding with outward courage, but also with compassion. We can be brave by reaching out to neighbors or classmates we've never met. We can display intellectual courage by learning more about the brutal Chechnya conflict that likely colored the suspects' lives and worldviews. We can challenge ourselves to think critically about the relationships between ethnicity, religion, skin color, politics, and behavior, breaking down artificial stereotypes or sweeping conclusions. Ensuring that Boston does not see an increase in hate crimes or discrimination would be a true testament to the character of our city and nation.
Earlier, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at Brandeis rescheduled their planned interfaith jummah prayer service and meal, the conclusion of Islam Awareness Week, due to the lockdown. After, a coordinator of the Brandeis Interfaith Group emailed the MSA inviting them to attend the still-scheduled Hillel Shabbat dinner so we could all be together. This is the compassion Boston and its universities need right now.
This week, Stephen Colbert opened his show by powerfully stating, "These maniacs may have tried to make life bad for the people of Boston, but all they can ever do is show just how good those people are." While I understand the sentiment, I think we must take it one step further. It is up to us, not the "maniacs," to show the world and those who wish to harm us how good we are. Although not all of us can donate blood upon completing a marathon, we can all be compassionate human beings, even when we are afraid. In the upcoming weeks I know that we Bostonians will continue to show our true colors and share our goodness with those around us.