A few thoughts on the bombing…

As I tend to watch the news extensively and even more so when there is a big news story, I have been engrossed in the coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing. And, as you can probably guess, I have a few thoughts on this event:

– Why do the news organizations report on things that are purely speculation? I don’t care that they start it out with “this is unconfirmed” or “this may or may not be true”. If you don’t know for sure, don’t report it on the news! People have selective hearing and they will skip over the little disclaimer and just hear the untrue/unconfirmed story you are reporting and then repeat it like it is actually fact. You are the news! Report what is news…not speculation.

– I know that people’s reactions when something like this happens is to want to seek revenge right away. But please don’t show pictures of people walking on roof tops or running away from the bombing and act like these people are suspects. The guy on the roof was walking TOWARDS the bombing. Probably was up there checking on the building for some reason, maybe he is the building manager or a contractor doing some repairs, he heard a big boom and walked along the edge of the building towards the sound like anyone else would do. This doesn’t make him a suspect. Just a curious bystander like the rest of us. And as for the guy in the torn clothes running away…he was running away from a bomb! Just like everyone else who was able to run away. Doesn’t make him a suspect…just a victim.

– Along those lines, the one thing that the news organizations report on that comes from law enforcement is that the bombs was on a timer. The persons who planted the bombs were not standing near the bombs when they went off. There wasn’t a need to do that. That is why the police have been asking people to turn in videos and pictures taken an hour or so before the bombings. They might be able to see the persons planting the bomb in one or both locations.

– Here’s a specific comment for the TODAY Show: Please don’t use a pressure cooker as a prop if it isn’t the kind of pressure cooker used in the bombing. It confuses people. Either use the right kind or none at all. The way you did it this morning made it seem like you were using a prop just to use a prop. It is dramatizing an event that has enough drama in and of itself.

One final thought, please pray for everyone. Those who are victims, those who lost loved ones, those who witnessed it (which includes everyone with a TV), the law enforcement agencies and anyone in the future who is going to attend a large sporting event. Pray for peace, love and kindness to reign supreme. We need to be calm in the face of terror, we need to love in the face of hatred, we need to be kind in the face of anger, we need to do as Christ taught us to: Love one another as he has loved us. With no caveats, addendum or codicils. Just love one another. And we will all feel better.