Boston

I think we can all agree that it has been a shit week.
I can't stop reading articles about the various things that have been going on (though...I also have an essay due in 6 hours, so that's probably contributing), but most of all, Boston. This is the only time something like this has happened since the 2006 Mumbai subway bombings where I had to worry about a safety of beloved family or friends, and it's a horrifying feeling. I am a heavy empathizer, so even when my own aren't directly involved, I tend to get emotional, but being reminded firsthand of what that's like...is scary. I hope you or anyone you know in the Boston area is safe after the blasts and the shooters last night and stays safe for anything to come.

I think it's easy to get disenchanted when something like this occurs. Oh great, another opportunity to racially profile, people are awful, etc. But my EMT instructor was telling us about friends she has in EMS up there, and how incredibly well Mass General and Boston EMS handled the situation. All operating rooms were cleared immediately of non-urgent procedures to accomodate patients from the blasts, and thanks to the stellar response, none of the 300 or so injured people are expected to die (even though there were a number of amputations, severe burns, force injuries, etc.). Runners were crossing the finish line only to keep running to the hospital to donate blood. In fact, enough blood was donated in one day to meet demand. I think that's pretty amazing, and I always hope I would do something as honorable as that in a similar situation. Most people are pretty awesome. Comedian Patton Oswalt put it really well,

"You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out...So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."