2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
Apr 16th 2013, 12:37 pm
#106
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,526
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
Well be careful who you share your humor with. Not many people will see anything humorous about a young woman dying after having her abdomen ripped open in front of friends and family, an 8 year boy being blown to pieces in front of his mother and sister, limbs being torn off people and blood flowing on the sidewalk. Maybe you should keep that part of your "culture" under wraps for a while.
Apr 16th 2013, 12:42 pm
#107
He/him
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: WA
Posts: 18,836
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
No one said the IRA did it, someone said it reminded them of the IRA. It made me think of the bad old days too.
MaryandNed you are bringing disharmony to this thread, that is inappropriate.
MaryandNed you are bringing disharmony to this thread, that is inappropriate.
Last edited by kimilseung; Apr 16th 2013 at 12:44 pm.
Apr 16th 2013, 12:44 pm
#108
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
I lived in Northern Ireland through the absolute worst of 'The Troubles' and I experienced things that I'm still trying to forget. I see nothing good in glorifying that period at all and I see no need for sick jokes. I don't even know how we got on this track because the suggestion that the IRA had anything to do with yesterday's events is one of the most ludicrous things I've heard.
But it is more out of that kind of terrorist attack style than of the ME style of suicide bombings. A simple observation, which is probably why people are speculating it to be home grown.
As for the drink, it's a tasteless thing to promote and such a tragedy as this on home soil will perhaps get it off the menu.
Apr 16th 2013, 12:47 pm
#109
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Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
Having a celebratory drink to terrorist activities is a little tasteless. I'm sure now that it might be seen as such and will likely be disappearing from many of all the bars and pubs that have it on the menu.
Apr 16th 2013, 12:48 pm
#110
Banned
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 26
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
So now the people of Boston know how the people of London, Birmingham, Warrington, Belfast, Londonderry, Guilford and all the other places bombed by the IRA scum
Apr 16th 2013, 1:28 pm
#111
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Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
The 6 year old sister of the young boy who died has lost a leg in the explosions. Their mother has had to have brain surgery.
Apr 16th 2013, 1:36 pm
#112
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Beautiful Dorset, UK
Posts: 2,195
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
We've just been on vacation in the US and flew home from Boston on Saturday night. Didn't really visit the city, just flew home from there, but driving around on Saturday saw the signs saying that traffic would be heavy on 'Marathon Monday'.
Apr 16th 2013, 2:04 pm
#113
I approved this message
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,425
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
The objective me is looking at this and thinking that we effectively do the same thing with drones in Pakistan and Yemen and....on a regular basis, we kill more and injure fewer each time, but we are not horrified by it when we do it to somebody else.
We are a hypocritical society.
We are a hypocritical society.
Last edited by Hiro11; Apr 16th 2013 at 2:06 pm.
Apr 16th 2013, 2:29 pm
#114
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Location: Cayman Islands
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Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
I'm uneasy with this comparison. It's certainly true that the results for innocent people affected are the same. However, I'm not sure I can draw a direct line between precise drone strikes against an enemy who deliberately surrounds himself with innocents and an indiscriminant bombing of zero military significance at the Boston Marathon. In my mind, these are not comparable or "morally equivalent" situations.
In ALL terrorist bombings, whether in the USA or the Middle East, there is a cruelty almost beyond imagining. We who aren't involved should feel the same revulsion, whoever the perpetrators are.
Apr 16th 2013, 3:01 pm
#115
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
The objective me is looking at this and thinking that we effectively do the same thing with drones in Pakistan and Yemen and....on a regular basis, we kill more and injure fewer each time, but we are not horrified by it when we do it to somebody else.
We are a hypocritical society.
Don't be mistaken, I am as sad as any at these bombings, but I will wait till there is evidence before jumping in and blaming somebody.
The Saudi guy was badly burned and running away so they treated him as a suspect! After the first explosion, I would move away quickly because there are often additional devices to get the responders when they crowd in.
We are a hypocritical society.
Don't be mistaken, I am as sad as any at these bombings, but I will wait till there is evidence before jumping in and blaming somebody.
The Saudi guy was badly burned and running away so they treated him as a suspect! After the first explosion, I would move away quickly because there are often additional devices to get the responders when they crowd in.
A terribly sad day.
Apr 16th 2013, 3:10 pm
#116
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
The car bomb comment wasn't a joke anyway, it was a serious comment that has been brought up on here many times as something that is inappropriate.
Apr 16th 2013, 3:41 pm
#117
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Apr 16th 2013, 4:04 pm
#118
I approved this message
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,425
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
I think from the point of view of the bombers, they ARE comparable and "morally equivalent". Both sets of bombers (in Boston and Afghanistan) set out to kill and mutilate innocent people. And remember that drone-pilots specialise in "double taps", when they wait for rescuers to arrive at the scene and send a second rocket to kill them. We don't know yet whether there was a "double tap" planned for Boston.
In ALL terrorist bombings, whether in the USA or the Middle East, there is a cruelty almost beyond imagining. We who aren't involved should feel the same revulsion, whoever the perpetrators are.
Apr 16th 2013, 4:33 pm
#120
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: 2 large explosions at Boston Marathon
The inquiry will report to the UN general assembly in New York this autumn. Depending on its findings, it may recommend further action. Emmerson has previously suggested some drone attacks – particularly those known as "double tap" strikes where rescuers going to the aid of a first blast have become victims of a follow-up strike – could possibly constitute a "war crime".