Do the people of Boston need to be protected from themselves?

[ProSense]

Those who lived through the tragedy and its aftermath appear relieved.

[hedgehog]

1. I think the people in Boston were enraged at the callous, meaningless attack on random

strangers taking part in one of their most treasured traditions. I am certain that a little work with Google will uncover all kinds of police brutality prior to this event, but I suspect that most Bostonians do not have a jaundiced view of their police forces. The people of Boston own their government and expect it to work to their benefit. In Boston, government is not the enemy. The people of Boston were more than happy to cooperate with police forces to track down and capture the bombers.

[ProSense]

6. Yes,

"Google will uncover all kinds of police brutality prior to this event"

...and given the post 9/11 environment with the escalated assault on civil liberties, you will also find similar, though not as all-inclusive, injustices prior to 9/11, specifically racial profiling and actions within the prison system.

This incident is not comparable.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. What does that mean?

[ProSense]

3. It means

the people of Boston don't seem to have any issues with how the police conducted themselves in response to the bombings, but other people seem to thing they should.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Boston will (and did) take care of Boston.

They handled everything just fine .

[graywarrior]

5. No

We're fine.

[ProSense]

7. Good to hear.

The images of people coming together and cooperating were a wonderful sight, good for Boston and the country.

[graywarrior]

11. We're an odd bunch here in the Boston area

[Tracer]

8. Drama Queens.

Frankly, I was disgusted by the hootin', hollerin' and jingoistic flag waving and chants of "USA", "USA", by a bunch of probably drunken yahoos.

Geez. What did they think this was, a sports event?

This article by Stephen Rizzo exactly matches what I think about the whole affair. And believe me, I've got immense sympathy for the victims of the bombings and shootings and have absolutely no grudge against the police.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/stephen-pizzo/49165/drama-queen-nation

But really. Was it necessary to have hundreds of law enforcement people on Franklin Street to arrest ONE wounded S.O.B.? Most of whom were doing nothing except standing around.

Was it necessary to have SWAT teams in my son's backyard?

[ProSense]

9. WTF?

Whether it's school children mowed down by a crazed gunman, a bombing, even a fertilizer plant leveling half an American town, we no longer just shake our heads in disgust and disbelief and then go on with life. No, we don't. That was so last century. That's not enough today.

So people shouldn't look at the causes? This person sounds like a friggin RW idiot. Fertilizer plant explodes due to negligence, oh well? I suspect he's from the Donald Rumsfeld school of "shit happens."

[RobinA]

16. No One is Suggesting

not looking for causes. It's just that it is becoming a ritual.

[ProSense]

17. So

"No One is Suggesting not looking for causes. It's just that it is becoming a ritual."

...mourning the loss of life and senseless violence, including possibly criminal negligence, is just now "becoming a ritual"?

You object to mourning?

[NCTraveler]

10. "Geez. What did they think this was, a sports event? "

The importance of this was greater than any sporting event. Winning = capture and a return to some form of normalcy/Loss = no capture and an understanding that the individuals are still at large. So you feel the cheering of a sporting event is more important than the capture of terrorists in your city? Many were locked down in their home. You might not understand their reasoning for celebrating, but it is really quiet obvious. The whole country, and much of the world was watching them. They performed well, and you say those celebrating are probably "drunken yahoos". That term would probably be better suited for your post.

"But really. Was it necessary to have hundreds of law enforcement people on Franklin Street to arrest ONE wounded S.O.B.? Most of whom were doing nothing except standing around. "

Having that many LEO's there can serve many purposes. Many could just be drawing eye's away from the real hunt. Not knowing if there were bombs elsewhere, this has them all on duty and prepared to respond. It gives less information to those who may be watching and want to do something similar in the future. The reasons could go on and on.

[Apophis]

12. Agreed.

[MineralMan]

13. Was it necessary to have SWAT teams in YOUR SON'S BACKYARD?

I don't know. Did they hurt your son? Where is his backyard? How are we supposed to answer that question?

[11 Bravo]

14. I'm sure the people who lived through it are absolutely crushed that an anonymous internet nobody ..

is disgusted by their response to the conclusion of their ordeal.

[RobinA]

15. Thanks For This Link

I agree 100%. We're becoming addicted to catastrophe and the ensuing trappings. It's tragedy porn. Each of these events has similar ritualistic components which are becoming observed like clockwork. Time for the teddy bears, OK the flag at half mast, handwringing "reporters," milit..oh sorry, law enforcement battalions, predictions of untold mayhem to come, doomsday prognostications of more bombs, shadowy co-conspirators lurking just out of reach. It started happing before 9/11, which just reenforced it.