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Politics and Activism

Hear the Silence, And Speak

"When you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, 'The good outnumber you, and we always will." ~ Shannon Stapelton

Meghan Rose Murphy
Jan 23, 2017
University of New Hampshire
11
Hear the Silence, And Speak
One Fund Boston

Suddenly I could hear the silence.

Yet, the only thing in my head is noise. Scenes of screaming, crying, gunshots, and explosions are all pressed in my memory.

I may not be from Boston nor did I grow up in the state of Massachusetts. But, I am from New England. Yet, ignore that too. I'm human. That's all that matters.

At 2:49pm on April 15th, 2013, the world was changed once again, in the most heartbreaking and angering of ways.

How any one person could pursue the deaths of others, without hesitation, boggles my mind and shakes my inner being to the core. On April 15th, not one person, but two brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, murdered 4 people and injured hundred motivated by religion and without remorse (The New York Times). The worst part is, I'll never be able to make sense of it. I wasn't present on the day of the bombings but, I've heard the stories, seen the news, and know people closer to it. I can't help but be hurt and feel the need to weep because of it.

I never really reflected on the day until now, after coming out of watching the newly released film Patriot’s Day. I understand people talk, and a movie like this can be a sensitive project. But, it left me motionless and the whole theater silent, except for syncopated sniffles and the wiping of tears row after row. I can't spoil anything for you, because if you're reading this then you know the ending, the people involved, and the things that happened. But, I can tell you that you haven't seen everything.

This story that's being told is unforgettable and is a truly heartfelt dedication to every victim and their families. I'll never understand why these terrible things happen, and especially to strong and innocent people. The truth is though, these situations make the survivors even stronger and more loving.

Those that walk away from tragedy are bestowed the fragile gift of storytelling, healing, and the heaviest burden of all; living life each day, even after tragedy. Yet, I would never say these terrible things are good things. Never in hell are these times meant to be positive lights. But, they happen. We can't control them, but we can learn from them and fight for those who can't.

We must be anything but silent.

---

In loving memory of the fallen and the injured.

Officer Sean Collier

Krystle Campbell

Martin Richard

Lu Lingzi

---

"Boston Marathon Bombings." HISTORY, A&E Networks, 2017.

CBS News. "Boston Marathon Bomber Victims." CBS News.

IMDb. "Patriots Day (2016)." IMDb, Amazon.

Seelye, Katherine Q. "Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Weeps As Relatives Try to Spare Him." The

New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia, The New York Times, 4 May 2015.

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