My family was driving home from a wonderful weekend visit with my son who was a student at Cornell University. Another son, sitting in the backseat, got a call from his girlfriend who asked him if he had heard the news. We all listened to the conversation as she shared the news of the Boston Marathon bombing. A few years back, the same girlfriend's call alerted us to a heinous murder in my sons' school community. In both circumstances, we were struck with horror and lots of questions:
- Who did it?
- Why did they do it?
- Did anyone die? How many? Do we know them?
- Are we safe?
We immediately switched from music to NPR to hear the latest updates. We conjectured. We worried. We made plans for the minutes and hours ahead.
As many now know, the information came out bit by bit. The leadership in Boston was incredibly strong and people-centered. The people at the event and affected by the event were also incredible strong. And, sadly, despite the tremendous tragedy and lost lives, we all becme BostonStrrong as we moved through this event individually and collectively. The people harmed most from the event worked with leaders and used the event to promote good in many ways. Government officials and medical staff did all they could to take care of the people, and use what they learned to hopefully stem future tragedies. Since that time, Boston and the rest of Massachusetts, in my opinion, have dealt with struggles with greater peace, unity, and intelligence.
Now, at this juncture in the United States, a time with an errant, self-serving, sore loser President who is acting much more like an domestic/international terrorist than a President of the United States, we need to be United States Strong! Taking inspiration from how the good leaders in Boston, Massachusetts, The United States, and around the world dealth with the tragedy on Marathon Monday April 5, 2013, we can come together, look to inspired positive leaders, and work for a common progress for the betterment of all Americans.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' leadership in the last few weeks have been United States Strong. Clearly, by prioritizing health care and the mitigation of this pandemic, they are putting the people first. This is positive for all of us because when the people are healthy and happy, the country is prosperous for everyone.
Rather than take terrorist Trump bait, they are focusing on the good we can do together. Rather than mired in Trump insults, misinformation, threats, prejudice, incompetence, ignorance, and hate, they are working with America's best and brightest to deal with the issues that challenge us most right now which are health care and the pandemic. The Biden/Harris team is United States Strong and for this I am grateful.