Sometimes it’s hard to be an American.
We have created so many divisions in our society,
ranging from politics to religion to sports teams, that make it hard and often
saddening to wake up each day and call ourselves a part of an American
community.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember what makes us a
community in the first place.
But after the horrific events in Boston, we couldn’t
have made a louder statement of the unity and compassion we share with and for
each other.
Thousands of Bostonians opened their homes to those
stranded in the city, marathon runners ripped off their clothes to aid the
wounds of those injured and some, after 26.2 miles, ran to Mass General to give
blood.
Twitter and Facebook lit up with “pray for Boston”
hashtags and profile
pictures, celebrities and athletes offered help — former Patriot Joe Andruzzi even carried victims
from the scene — and restaurants provided free meals and shelter.
The Yankees even tweeted, for what has to be the
first time ever, “We stand united with the @RedSox.”
America spoke with words of kindness and compassion,
some willing to do anything possible to comfort those directly affected by the
tragic event.
We may be a country built from and prided on our
divisions. But underneath it all, we are united.
We share our love just as we share our
freedom.
We cry for those we have never met and we do anything
in our power to protect those we may never meet.
We are a nation that is inherently good.
The actions of those who care and love make an impact
larger than any bomb can.
The unity we have strengthened this week is greater
than any partisan divide in Washington or income divide between Wall Street and
Main Street.
This unity is rare and it comes from kindness — the
kindness of your everyday American, which often seems overshadowed by the cruel
misdeeds of the few.
We proved this week that no evil can overshadow the
love we have for each other.
That we will stand together as one, rejoicing
together in celebration and mourning together in sadness.
We are one nation.
We are one family.
Today, we are all Boston. [vermontcynic.com]
