Experiencing the Boston bombing envy

By Robert Lalah

Like many people, I was glued to the television set recently watching news coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing, and the subsequent manhunt for the brothers suspected of committing the heinous act.

It was a shocking episode for many reasons, all of which contributed to record-breaking numbers of viewers tuning in around the clock as the drama unfolded. With all those invasive searches at airports, surveillance cameras on every corner, stories of wire-tapping and cam-paigns to encourage residents to report anything suspicious, it's hard to understand how a bombing like this could be suc-cessfully executed at a high-profile event.

Then, in the initial hours after the bombing, it seemed the US authorities had no clue who did it. This again was surprising since we assume that post-9/11 America, if even unable to prevent every terrorist attack, would have a handle on who would commit a crime like this and would respond with speed and decisive force.

But it didn't happen like that. For a while, it seemed the police and FBI were completely in the dark and were banking only on tips from residents to help them figure things out.

Send in your pictures and videos, they said, without offering any hint about who could have been responsible. Then, even after the photos and videos revealed two suspects, the FBI still didn't know who they were. It was only after they had the lifeless body of one of them that the authorities were able to fill in the blanks and release the names of the persons who pulled off this alarming feat.

Even today, with the second bomber in custody and the drama surrounding the case diminishing, questions remain about how the investigation was handled and whether the bombing could have been prevented.

For us in Jamaica, there was something surreal about watching the manhunt for the second bomber, who ran off in a residential area and was being pursued by SWAT team officers wearing menacing uniforms and carrying big guns. Helicopters hovering overhead, residents were advised to stay indoors as police carried out the search.

News reporters declared it an 'unprecedented' manhunt. Now, while US newscasts are never short on hyperbole, it certainly was extraordinary seeing an American city look so much like a west Kingston community. What is unprecedented for them is all too common to us. This is when some of us started getting our first taste of what I call 'Boston envy'.

simply inspiring

Clearly, the bombing was horrific. The aftermath though, despite the shortcomings mentioned, was simply inspiring. There was a sense of unity displayed by Bostonians that exceeded even the news media's ability to exaggerate.

Without knowing if more explosions were imminent, police and civilians alike rushed towards the victims, mere seconds after the first bomb went off. There are stories of people taking the shirts off their backs and using them to wrap the wounds of complete strangers. These victims were covered in blood, some having lost limbs, yet they were receiving very intimate, life-saving care from people they didn't even know.

The fact that these people jumped into action so quickly is the truest possible testimony to the strength of their character. People here in Jamaica who question whether the response to such an event would have been so selfless had it occurred here, were the first to experience Boston envy. The politically correct thing to say is, yes, of course it would. We should say that we would dive to the aid of wounded strangers at the first opportunity. And there have been instances where this has happened. Think of all those rescued from deadly waters after their vehicles fell off the Flat Bridge in St Catherine.

difference

But if you factor in Boston residents' response to the security forces after the capture of the second bomber, the difference between them and us becomes clearer. When the manhunt was over, Bostonians gathered in the streets and cheered the forces, while holding 'thank you' signs. Now that's something we certainly aren't accustomed to here.

After such a major operation, we don't exactly see much cheering from residents. Now that's either because our police and soldiers are doing little to endear themselves to residents, or we're a nation of ungrateful citizens who, perhaps, side too often with the criminals these operations are intended to capture. Either way, the nation loses and the result is more Boston envy.

We continue to hope though that if something like the Boston bombing were to happen here, our response would be similar to theirs. We hope that the Jamaican spirit that has kept us going despite hardships of all sorts would kick in and the best of who we are would be displayed. We hope even more, though, that we never have to test it.

Robert Lalah is Features Editor and author of the popular 'Roving with Lalah'. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com.