WaPo: Uncle Ruslan’s inspiring words — a moment we needed

[Poll_Blind]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2013/04/19/uncle-ruslans-inspiring-words-a-moment-we-needed/

Go to that above link. Read that. First paragraph:

Uncle of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects whose baseball-capped images have been flickering over our TV sets for the past day, one of whom at the time of this writing is still the subject of a manhunt, Tsarni emerged into his yard in Maryland and delivered an impromptu news conference that has already slipped into the realm of meme and legend.
He denounced the men responsible for Monday’s tragedy. Asked what the suspects’ motive might have been, he responded, “Being losers.”

--snip--

I highly recommend reading that whole thing.

Another article, this one from Slate:
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2013/04/uncle_ruslan_tsarni_the_uncle_of_bombing_suspects_dzhokhar_and_tamerlan.html

Please, Listen to Ruslan: The bombing suspects’ uncle delivers an extraordinary message about character, shame, and collective responsibility.

From the moment we heard of an explosion at the Boston Marathon, the talk on television, Twitter, and in everyday conversations has been about which category the killers belonged to. Muslims? White supremacists? Arabs? Dark-skinned? Even in the hours since we learned the suspects’ names, it’s been all about nationality and ethnicity: Chechnya, Dagestan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia.

Then, shortly after 11:30 this morning, Ruslan Tsarni, an uncle of the two suspects, stepped out of his house in Maryland and delivered an extraordinary message about character, shame, and collective responsibility. If you haven’t seen the video, watch it below. And keep the memory of it with you in the days to come.

--snip--

Video at link above.

PB

[randome]

1. He may have single-handedly prevented MORE bigotry and hatred.

Not just directed at him and his family.

[Poll_Blind]

3. We live in such...such a strange world. Sometimes some player in it all, they step...

...forward and they say something, do something, not realizing how much of an impact it will have, could have, to make things better.

No, at the time, it's just the natural response from a person. In this case, this particular person, as you indicated, helped keep (I hope) an awful, terrible, tragic situation from getting even worse.

No script, no memorized lines. Just him being him, tellin' it like it is.

PB

[Brimley]

6. Did you see the video?

If I was in trouble, I'd want that guy in my corner!

[randome]

11. I saw it live on MSNBC. He was awesome!

And I'd want him in my corner, too!

[all american girl]

20. I saw it too

I actually started clapping, then thought maybe that wasn't so cool...I just couldn't help myself.

[toddwv]

34. Unfortunately, no.

Just take a look over at Free Republic.

The racists, religion based bigots, and dogs of war will ignore this man's truly brave words.

[Octafish]

2. ''I teach my children.''

Thank you, Poll Blind.

[freshwest]

12. That paragraph brought tears to my eyes. The others, too, but that was very strong.

[Zorra]

4. “I teach my children....

...This is the ideal micro-world in the entire world. I respect this country. I love this country. This country which gives chance to everybody else to be treated as a human being and to just to be human being. To feel yourself human being.”
.

[Poll_Blind]

7. +1

What a crazy place to find such an inspirational message. And yet there we are. This world is amazing, tragic, inspirational and always surprising- all at the same time.

PB

[dkf]

9. Made me cry...

Uncle Ruslan rocks!

[freshwest]

13. There: '...treated as a human being and to just to be human being. To feel yourself human being.'

[OneGrassRoot]

19. That's what got me. When he said that....

That is it.

[snagglepuss]

5. A perfect speech from someone in his horrible sitation. He focused on the victims.

He spoke about his deep repect for his adopted country. His family's shame. His outrage spoke volumes. That is the speech everyone should give when family members commit heinous acts.

[Patiod]

24. That's right - not just "poor me" but "poor us"

not defensive - just exactly the right notes.

[Poll_Blind]

8. I like the recs, but please keep kicked if possible. I'd really like his words to reach as many...

...as possible.

PB

[2theleft]

10. I feel for Uncle Ruslan...

The shame you could just feel coming from him. He was very brave to hold that press conference, and his message was wonderful. I hope that he and his family can find some peace.

[moondust]

14. K/R

[freshwest]

15. Here's the complete video:

Uncle Of Marathon Bombing Suspects Speaks

Published on Apr 19, 2013

For more: http://to.pbs.org/11JFHad

The marathon bombing suspects' uncle, Ruslan Tsarni of Montgomery Village, Md., told the AP that they are from a Russian region near Chechnya and that they lived together near Boston and had been in the United States for about 10 years.

Speaking outside his home, Tsarni told Dzhokhar Tsarnaev -- who remained at large and considered "extremely dangerous" -- that he brought shame to the family.

"Dzhokhar, if you are alive, turn yourself in and ask for forgiveness," he said.

[daleanime]

16. Wow....

[spooky3]

17. The poor guy. The clip was just on the local (DC area) news. They said he then

went to the neighbors to apologize for the commotion from all the media interviewing him, etc. They interviewed a neighbor who said that he and his family were wonderful people, very nice, his children were lovely.

[Posteritatis]

21. You could tell he was hurting from the tone, I think.

This can't be fun for any of the family, but he sounds a bit more grounded and seems a lot more upset about it all.

[JDPriestly]

18. And he sums it up very well. I have been asking what motivates these

killers, what causes them to do these things. He's right.

They are losers. They know they are losers, and it makes them angry.

And why are they losers? Because they are impatient.

[colorado_ufo]

22. A good man, a wise man.

Thank you, Ruslan, for bringing a message of peace.

[SunSeeker]

23. K&R

[veness]

25. Thank you Mr. Tsarni. K & R. n/t

[pangaia]

26. He showed great patience when surrounded by a bunch oj jackals

hoping they have found some dead meat. Screeching, foaming lunatics...

To paraphrase--He kept his mind while all those around him were losing theirs.

Bravo.!!

[Posteritatis]

28. Especially that one reporter who kept attacking the guy's patriotism. Ugh. (nt)

[pangaia]

29. Right and..

"What do you think about America?" WFT is that?
He should have asked the asshat, "What do YOU think about America?"
But, he showed more class than I could have. :&gt ))

[ecstatic]

33. I know! nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

27. "Asked what the suspects’ motive might have been, he responded, “Being losers.” "

AND Being pissed off over people who weren't.

It had NOTHING to do with where they were from or the politics of Russia and Chechnya but the Neocons would LOVE there to be a renewal of fear of a boogie man. Then they could dust off their Super Capes and play "hero" again.

[tclambert]

30. Uncle Ruslan tellin' it like it is.

[ReRe]

31. My son used to work with a couple Chechnyians...

... and he described them both as being just like this "Uncle Ruslan." They were both extremely happy to be living in the USA. That the place they had fled from some 15 years ago (Chechnya) was like hell on earth. I used to pass on books to my son to give to them, as they loved reading. They both had families and were among the hardest workers in the plant. Had either of them stepped up to that mic to speak, it would have mirrored what Ruslan said today.

[mia]

32. Thanks for this post.

I too was moved by Ruslan Tsarni's spontaneous and powerful interview.