What does Chechnya have to do with runners and spectators in the Boston Marathon? For that matter, what does Chechnya have to do with the United States or anything else other than Russia?
The Boston bombings typify, once again, the insanely twisted thinking of terrorists.
Everybody is wondering what was the motive of the two brothers who set off their bombs? I don’t like the word “motive,” especially when it comes to terrorist attacks, because it almost implies a motive can somehow explain away or minimize the appalling effects of mass violence.
Still, I can’t help but wonder: Why did those two killers take out their rage on good fellow human beings – spectators and runners? Were they trying to exact revenge for what happened in their home country of Chechnya? Talk about misplaced rage! The sheer viciousness of killing and maiming people for any reason on that beautiful Boston day is beyond comprehension.
Perhaps the brothers’ motive had less to do with Chechnya and more to do with extremist interpretations of Islam. In that case, they might have considered anybody non-Muslim (runners and their loved ones, as they stupidly assumed) to be the infidel, the “other,” the enemy to be destroyed. It’s the same demented line of reasoning used by al Qaeda, the Taliban and so many other “religious” sects that seem to worship violence, not peace. “Jihad,” an Islamic term for “struggle” (which can mean “spiritual struggle”), is often interpreted by violent extremists to mean “holy war.” Don’t these so-called religious adherents understand “holy war” is – or ought to be – an oxymoron? No, of course they don’t. Crusading Christians and Muslims in the Medieval Era didn’t understand that, either.
Another possible “motive” is this: The brothers’ attacks had nothing to do with Chechnya or political/religious extremism. Maybe – who knows? – they set off their bombs for the rotten spite of it, for the “kick” of killing people for no particular reason. That seems to be a widespread “motive” these days, in what might as well be called the “Age of Random Hatred.”
Investigators will spend a lot of time with the surviving terrorist. I’m glad he survived, only because experts may possibly discover more information, connecting more dots, so future attacks might be prevented. They might even uncover a motive, but rest assured any motive will be utterly criminal, with no basis whatsoever in the realm of reason.
What a lunatic irony these sly-but-stupid killers never learn the catastrophic errors of their ways. We should be happy most killers are so stupid. After all the terrorist attacks since 9/11 (and even before), you’d think they’d learn their acts are not only absurdly futile but ultimately self-destructive, no matter what their motives, no matter what their causes. Their baseless violence makes victims stronger, not weaker.
It’s almost symbolic that during their shoot-out with police, the younger brother, in his cowardly get-away attempt, slammed the accelerator of a hijacked vehicle to the floor and ran over his brother. It’s a symbol of how violence rebounds on killers and even destroys one’s own brothers. That’s a lesson al Qaeda is still not learning. Maybe some day, they will truly become enlightened through an “inner jihad” and learn how to love and respect all their brothers and sisters – worldwide. In the meantime, until that sadly distant day arrives, the Boston bombers, like their al Qaeda “brethren,” have won nothing and have proven nothing – well, that is, except for one thing: What rock-bottom losers they are.
Just seconds after the Boston explosions, so many people on the scene demonstrated tremendous courage and a third-wind strength to help the wounded. Good people like that are the winners, and they will always be winners, no matter how many times stupid bloodthirsty spoilers throw their murderous tantrums.
