Many Injured in Explosions at Boston Marathon

If the taking of one saves hundreds they would argue otherwise...flawed, but potentially defensible from a purely logical standpoint
 
Folks, please let's not take this thread off on another ranty tangent. Stay on the topic of the Boston marathon and please don't use it to vent your displeasure at whatever 'interest' group gets your back up at the moment.
 
Well, on my end all the people I know or are family were ok. Nice bit of relief. Hope all the same with you Bomber.
 
But isn't terrorism usually an indescriminate attack, to incite 'terror' in the general population? To take it to a silly extreme: if someone started hunting clowns, but only those with green hair and a blue nose (for whatever reasons), that would make him a serial killer with a specific target profile. But not a terrorist.

More to the point (quote from wikipedia):
Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror); are perpetrated for a religious, political or, ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians).

By that commonly used definition, someone killing specific target is not a terrorist. And to shoehorn every ideological motivated killer into the terrorist label is incorrect. Yes, every killing is bad, but not every killing is terrorism.
 
Which is why President Obama did not call it an act of terrorism during his address, while other people in less authoritative but important positions were. Applause to the administration of the country for staying focused and not passing judgment before the facts come out. I'm sure people will make his lack of bleeding red, white and blue and calling a bomb terrorism immediately will be popular in less informed crowds.

There are so much conflicting information in an internet search on this event it's astounding.
 
Anyway, enough of that.

I just heard someone mention that because of the date, he judged it more likely to be domestic rather than foreign. Not being American I have to ask: what was special about that date? Is there any political significance to it?
 
I saw this around 3am yesterday and was upset, but not shocked. There's very little in the news these days that shock me.

My thought to all the families out there, who have lost someone.
 
The third week of April has a lot of events like this between shootings and bombings in the U.S.. Unless some evidence comes out suggesting this it's just pure speculation on some people's part. It could be legitimate, and it could be the dumbest thing ever. I'm sure it's being said to help ratings out.
 
Isn't the date of the marathon the same as Patriots Day? Said something like that on the BBC. I think it said it is a Boston thing to remember some battles in the War of Independence.
 
Just a question...how long before we can say something about this event that might be deemed a little insensitive or controversial?
I have some thoughts about this but I'm well aware of what an emotional time this is and what a horrible event it was.
And don't want to be seen as diminishing those feelings.
 
If it provokes thought and conversation, and falls within the ToS, then I can't see a problem.

You've always been a pretty good judge on what can and can't be said.
 
I heard the bit that was blown up was the Sandy Hook tribute part. If it was an attack over 2nd ammendment fears then the person who did it really doesn't understand irony.
 
Yeah...in this case I don't think that'd be the case. It's something I suspect other people are thinking but not voicing but it's not something that will be viewed well at all I think.
 
Is it speculation for why this happened? Please feel free to share what you're thinking about it. If you said "American culture loves violence" or "some people just want to hurt others, shame on them" I would think both of those opinions are legitimate.

The only thing I can think of that would be offensive is saying you hope this happens to more people or something along those lines. If that's the case, then by all means don't say anything more : P. That or derailing the thread for another remotely related topic that isn't appropriate for this thread.
 
I'm talking to Simon about it via PM. I feel better for mentioning it to "someone" at least.
 
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