Patriots Day
April 15, 2013.
It was a moment that the city of Boston never expected, especially on a day of pure joy and excitement, when the Boston Marathon was being run.
Two bombs went off, killing three individuals and injuring hundreds.
In the days that followed, the manhunt for the two men responsible took place and with that came destruction, gunfire, injury and the death of a police officer.
The chaos ended when the last suspect was captured on April 19.
A quick summary of the events doesn't do it justice, which is why I took to the big screen to watch "Patriots Day."
Two hours and 10 minutes later, I walked out of the theater and couldn't form the words to describe what I witnessed.
Yes, it was a movie, but I saw the blood, sweat, and tears of thousands of individuals that were affected. I saw what it was like to be in Boston on a day from hell.
However, after taking some time to think about it, I didn't want to write a movie review. There was a different meaning found in this movie for me, but my quick advice to everyone is that the movie is a 10/10 film. I highly recommend that every person watches this movie to put things into perspective.
Why America Needs This
As a nation today, we are faced with trials and tribulations on a daily basis. Murders, assaults, you name it. There is so much division on American soil that it is frustrating to watch.
It almost brings tears to your eyes watching your neighbor, your brother, your friend being taken away from you in an instant.
Life forever changed for individuals on that day in 2013. People lost limbs, they lost loved ones, and they lost guidance. They didn't know which way to turn, but soon, it became clear to me that a bigger lesson was learned: how to be a human being.
We were put on this earth for a reason, to make a difference in people's lives and to not let anything come in our way.
There were no titles that day. There weren't any officers, there was no FBI, there wasn't a division between them. They came together. These people were AMERICANS.
Blacks, Whites, Democrats, Republicans... it didn't matter who was in the room or on the street. They wanted to restore peace to an area and get on with life even though it was going to be different.
What would you have done?
If you saw people lying in pools of blood, with legs blown off, and screaming children beside them, would you say #NotMyProblem and run away, or would you put everything aside and do whatever you can to help?
Americans can learn from watching this movie. Sacrifice, bravery, and the LOVE people had for each other got Boston through this time.
As we approach a time in our nation's history that is historic, monumental, and defining, I ask you to not hate. I ask you to love and appreciate being an American. Views on sports, politics, and everything else may differ, and that's okay, but it doesn't and shouldn't give you the right to not trust the person next to you and give them a chance because you never know what impact can follow.
The people of Boston came into contact with many others that day.
People were saved by strangers who eventually became their friends.
It shouldn't take devastating and catastrophic events to bring people together.
Take a look around you. If ONE person extends a helping hand, no matter race or background, they've changed the world right then. You can make the world a better place.
Patriots Day is just a movie that tells a story, but it's the underlying messages that should speak out to you.
It's time for us, as Americans, to come to together and #BeBetter.
God Bless.
