Reflections on Boston marathon bombings

More tragic violence in a place of public community. 3 people have died so far, 13 have lost limbs, and over 180 are hurt. Racial profiling has begun, comparisons to the events widely known as "nine-eleven" have been made, and the police and FBI are determined to find the culprit(s). The city is equally determined to emerge from this tragedy with courage. Justice is promised. A renewal of spirit is promised. All this, as blood is seeping and drying into concrete streets and sidewalk. History layers upon history.

We don't know who did this. We may or may not ever find out. The search will continue and is sincere, but results are not what will bring true justice, or enough justice. To the loved ones of those who died, I imagine nothing can compare to having their loved ones alive.

This marathon takes place annually on Patriots Day, which marks the anniversary of the American Revolution battles in 1775. Frankly, I don't know much about American history, but reading these facts on the news compels me to notice that we are in the middle of another revolution right now. The political and spiritual meanings of revolution coincide for me.

The current questions (implied or explicit) out there are - is it an American person who is responsible for this set of bombings? If so, what is their race/ ethnicity/gender/ life story/ political motivation or can we write them off as "mentally unstable" if none of those stereotypes is enough to blame their dysfunction? Or, is it someone with citizenship from another country, and 3 guesses for what countries we are guessing first....

The real question is - if someone is extremely upset about something and feels justified in unleashing their suffering onto whomever in a public place so that it will bring about destruction and attention - there is a deeper problem we need to pay attention to. Capitalism, government, and many widely accepted systems rely on the majority's wants and satisfaction. What does that do to the minorities it is willing to leave behind or step on? Or to the individuals we write off / give up on / put in jail?

You can't seek justice, you have to build it. We have to build it. If we really want not to be faced with horrific acts, we need to stop treating people in this country horrifically - especially in prisons, detention centers, at borders and other sites of violent oppression. We also need to stop treating people in other countries that way - Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, wherever.

For now, my heart aches for all who are hurt by this violence. And I pray that their hurts do not become harm to others. This has got to stop. It is no single person's fault, we need to approach our societies and all people in them as able to heal, as worth listening to, and as important as any majority experience. Every body matters, all lives are equally valuable.  U.S. laws, like many other countries, don't reflect this belief. That's what needs to change, that would be the beginnings of building justice.