Boston marathon bombs, and Waco TX explosions.... what the fuck is happening this week
What the fuck is going on lately?!
First the Boston marathon tragedy-- which I have been repeatedly looking into multiple times a day for updates and which upset/angered me from the first moment I heard of it (thank God my friend and her sister who were there are okay but Jesus, I feel so incredibly horrible for everyone who was affected or injured in any way, and especially the people who lost loved ones).
Then just now I read about the Waco Texas explosion. That was a fertilizer plant and a fireball from the explosion seems to have been involved. Right now my assumption is that it wasn't actually any sort of deliberate attack by anyone and is an incredibly tragic, catastrophic failure of safety nets, but I really have no idea.
Either way, two massive explosions with high numbers of casualties (deceased and injured) in one week in a country unused to this activity. It's just so.... wtf. I'm wishing the best for all the people affected in TX as well. My heart goes out to everyone. I really, really hope no families are directly affected by BOTH explosions. That would be especially devastating.
This week has made me think even more about what it must be like in countries of perpetual unrest-- how frightening it must be for the citizens on a daily basis, or at the very least how grim. I really wish we lived in a more peaceful world, where innocent civilians never had to worry about their lives changing forever for someone else's agenda.
More Boston marathon articles:
General information
This article keeps updating with news of the aftermath. There are conflicting reports of whether or not anyone is in custody. Latest: FBI says no one in custody, but unofficial reports of 2 suspects identified. LA Times has a page labeled Full coverage: Explosions at Boston Marathon.
Stories of victims/helpers
One of the stories that really got me is one everyone has probably seen-- Jeff Bauman, the shell-shocked man being pushed in a wheelchair while a man in a cowboy hat runs next to him helping out (later identified as Carlos Arredondo). If you saw the cropped photo, it's harrowing enough, but the uncropped photo is horrific. I'm not linking or describing it for those who wish to avoid any graphic content.
The story is even more inspiring and sad when you learn more. Hero of the Boston bombings: How father who lost his soldier son in Iraq saved lives after blasts rocked his home city. Jeff himself was there cheering his girlfriend as she ran in the race.
Another touching/sad story is about a Purple Heart recipient who helped save a woman's life and didn't plan to come into the limelight until asked by the Governor.
Donations
If you choose to donate to help (I hope you do!) beware of frauds/bogus charities!
The seemingly legit ones I've found so far are as follows but verify for yourself first:
***The One Fund, set up by the Mayor and Governor to aid the families hit the hardest
***Red Cross says they have enough resources and send you to The One Fund
***matching donation from the Boston Patriots
***Bucks for (Jeff) Bauman, seemingly set up by friends but CHECK to be sure!
Surprisingly, I've had a hard time finding more places to donate. Maybe it's still too soon? But I would have thought Too Soon is precisely when people would want donation sites to be available, when the event is still fresh in everyone's minds and they're more likely to donate.
First the Boston marathon tragedy-- which I have been repeatedly looking into multiple times a day for updates and which upset/angered me from the first moment I heard of it (thank God my friend and her sister who were there are okay but Jesus, I feel so incredibly horrible for everyone who was affected or injured in any way, and especially the people who lost loved ones).
Then just now I read about the Waco Texas explosion. That was a fertilizer plant and a fireball from the explosion seems to have been involved. Right now my assumption is that it wasn't actually any sort of deliberate attack by anyone and is an incredibly tragic, catastrophic failure of safety nets, but I really have no idea.
Either way, two massive explosions with high numbers of casualties (deceased and injured) in one week in a country unused to this activity. It's just so.... wtf. I'm wishing the best for all the people affected in TX as well. My heart goes out to everyone. I really, really hope no families are directly affected by BOTH explosions. That would be especially devastating.
This week has made me think even more about what it must be like in countries of perpetual unrest-- how frightening it must be for the citizens on a daily basis, or at the very least how grim. I really wish we lived in a more peaceful world, where innocent civilians never had to worry about their lives changing forever for someone else's agenda.
More Boston marathon articles:
General information
This article keeps updating with news of the aftermath. There are conflicting reports of whether or not anyone is in custody. Latest: FBI says no one in custody, but unofficial reports of 2 suspects identified. LA Times has a page labeled Full coverage: Explosions at Boston Marathon.
Stories of victims/helpers
One of the stories that really got me is one everyone has probably seen-- Jeff Bauman, the shell-shocked man being pushed in a wheelchair while a man in a cowboy hat runs next to him helping out (later identified as Carlos Arredondo). If you saw the cropped photo, it's harrowing enough, but the uncropped photo is horrific. I'm not linking or describing it for those who wish to avoid any graphic content.
The story is even more inspiring and sad when you learn more. Hero of the Boston bombings: How father who lost his soldier son in Iraq saved lives after blasts rocked his home city. Jeff himself was there cheering his girlfriend as she ran in the race.
Another touching/sad story is about a Purple Heart recipient who helped save a woman's life and didn't plan to come into the limelight until asked by the Governor.
Donations
If you choose to donate to help (I hope you do!) beware of frauds/bogus charities!
The seemingly legit ones I've found so far are as follows but verify for yourself first:
***The One Fund, set up by the Mayor and Governor to aid the families hit the hardest
***Red Cross says they have enough resources and send you to The One Fund
***matching donation from the Boston Patriots
***Bucks for (Jeff) Bauman, seemingly set up by friends but CHECK to be sure!
Surprisingly, I've had a hard time finding more places to donate. Maybe it's still too soon? But I would have thought Too Soon is precisely when people would want donation sites to be available, when the event is still fresh in everyone's minds and they're more likely to donate.