Can it happen anywhere?

[Texasgal]

Is this our new reality?

Should we be more aware that this has been happening in other counties for decades?

Is it time for us to "get used to it" ?

This is what I am getting from other sites and news sites.

Thoughts?

[justiceischeap]

1. I've always thought we were damned lucky

when you compare other countries and their terrorist events. I'm actually shocked it doesn't happen here more often, to be honest. But yes, I think this is our new reality, just like mass shootings.

[seabeyond]

2. more likely getting in a car accident and doesnt stop me from driving. honestly,

the odds are so very low any of this stuff happening to me, i am not going to let this be a part of my life. but, a sorrow for those that are experiencing this pain in the here and now.

[onehandle]

3. These days it seems to happen mostly in the Northeast.

I'm waiting for a Southern Republican to question why the federal government should spend money on this 'Northern problem.'

[chalky]

15. Three years ago we had that lunatic fly his plane into the IRS building in Texas.

So I don't know about it being a Northeast problem.

[davidn3600]

17. People who hate the country will target places like Washington and New York.

A lot of people. A lot of symbolism.

[uppityperson]

4. Of course it can happen anywhere, has been reality for a long time. We can deal like it like

France did by getting rid of trash cans and having clear plastic trash bags in public places. Or we can deal with it by chasing a dark skinned man who ran from the bomb, was tackled and handed over to police, or by shooting anyone with (pick a category) or by buying more guns or by....

Reality is it has been a reality for a long time and considering how large this country is, we've had relatively few mass bombings.

I think instant internet and media frenzy is playing into it all because omg you might switch to another station so let me talk breathlessly about whateverthefuckIcan and coming up is something else breathlessly so stay tuned.

Yes, I am cynical. Reality is people do horrendous things to others. It sucks.

[Texasgal]

10. Confused.

Do you not think this is a big deal?

[uppityperson]

14. Reality is people do horrendous things to others. It sucks.

Reality is that this sort of thing could happen anywhere, not just now but for a long time. Still, it is a big deal as we are not used to this here.

Like Klablooie said in reply to you "Depending on who did this, we may have to live with random violent attacks as our new reality just as the English did for decades."

But your OP asks "Can it happen anywhere? Is this our new reality?" Yes. It can happen anywhere. WA was lucky last yr when the white supremacist's bomb didn't go off at the MLK parade. As far as our "new reality", it has been a reality for a long time. Remember the Trade Towers were bombed in 1993. 20 yrs ago. Then there are women's health clinic bombings. And Timothy McVeigh bombing.

It could be some single psychopath who wanted to do something big in a really nasty sort of way. Or it could be a white supremacist group. Or a bunch of political or apolitical or pick a skin color or religion group starting to do a series.

Do we just "get used to it"? To random bombings? It depends on who did this and why. What happens next depends a great deal on that.

[Honeycombe8]

5. Don't attend an iconic event, and you'll be okay, I think.

No iconic marathons, no Olympics, no "biggest fair in the country," no gay parades, no Cinqo de Mayo parades.

Go to the movies, instead. Oh, wait.....

[Hoyt]

7. Atlanta Olympics bomb 1996.

[Agschmid]

12. This morning I requested off June 2nd for AIDS walk...

and the following Saturday for the Boston gay pride parade. Not sure if I will be doing those now.

[smirkymonkey]

6. Honestly, I moved here from NYC and thought I would be much safer.

Apparently not. Nowhere is safe these days.

[Kablooie]

8. This seems IRA like.

Britain had to live with random attacks like this for years.
When I visited London in 1979 I just missed a bomb in Victoria station by a couple of minutes.

Depending on who did this, we may have to live with random violent attacks as our new reality just as the English did for decades.

[otohara]

9. We Kill More w/ Guns

and ignored for decades it until Newtown.

This type of terrorism takes time and planning - it won't be the norm.

[AsahinaKimi]

11. I remember watching this movie..in 1983

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Bulletin



FULL MOVIE

[uppityperson]

19. I am SO glad to see someone else has seen this. About how media works.

It is such a good show. I stopped by friends house in the middle and had to watch for a bit to see if it was real or not. It is very well done and quite telling. Thank you AsahinaKimi.

[rustydog]

13. Of course it can happen anywhere at any given time

Marathons, parades, 4th of July celebrations, pro sports venues, educates, schools, abortion providers &alleged providers. Any place where some fundamentally challenged believer in whatever wants to make a statement.

Can you say Oklahoma City? The Olympics?

[Logical]

16. Yes, but very very rare. Not worth losing more liberties! n-t

[BlueCheese]

18. Honestly, as terror attacks go, this was a pinprick.

It is obviously devastating for the families of the three people killed, and those who were injured. But I wouldn't be surprised if more people were killed and injured in car accidents in Boston today. It is far less harmful than any of the unfortunate number of shooting sprees that happen with much more regularity.

Living in fear because of something like this is letting fear win too easily. If the British and Israelis kept going through far more serious and frequent bombings, we can keep going through something like this.