A Rare Moment of Seriousness

It is no doubt the topic on everyone's mind this morning- the explosion at Manchester Arena yesterday as fans left an Ariana Grande concert there that has killed a reported 19 and injured 59. 

In the aftermath of the attack at the Bataclan in November 2015, I wondered to myself what had taken so long? Gatherings like concerts (ball games, auto racing, parades, rallies, etc) are prime targets, people's guards will almost always be down because of the endorphin rush of having seen the spectacle- but, in the west, such attacks were rare.

That the target last night was fans of an performer whose audience is comprised mainly of teenagers shouldn't be surprising, either. The aims of terrorists are the same- no matter what their ideology: Using violence to coerce another, usually more powerful, group to accede to their will. The more heinous the attack, the more helpless the victim is perceived to be, the more terrible the act will appear.

Terrorists of any political bent will strike wherever they can, and often at the most vulnerable among us. Ask the citizens of Vilnius, Lithuania; Bath, Michigan; Kfar Darom in the Gaza Strip- just some of the many locations around the world where children were the targets of attacks.

While the technology the terrorist can call on to wreak their havoc has advanced- so, too, has our capacity to fight. Now, in this century- we have the world at our fingertips. Social sites have made us a global people, and the ability to be coerced by such acts has been rendered smaller with each passing day.

That doesn't mean terrorists will abandon their efforts- it just means those efforts will continue to become more heinous. It is up to us to be more resilient.

For now, though, I suggest that we focus on the victims/intended victims of yesterday's attack instead of the perpetrator and their aims. 

For the dead, remembrance. For the injured, healing. For the bystanders, counsel. For the responders, safety and sure hands.

For all of us, peace.