Terrorist:

We are a 9/11 family.  Yesterday, while the tragic events unfolded at the Boston Marathon, we were walking into the United States Capitol for a tour.  My husband was chanting "e pluribus unum" to our fifteen year old daughter; teasing her because she takes Latin in school.
It means "Out of many, one." There will be a more detailed explanation for your insect sized brain later.

We were oblivious to the tragic events that were unfolding in our beloved city of Boston as we walked into the Capitol.   My husband lost his first wife, my daughters, their first mother on Flight 11 on September 11th 2001.  Her name was Lisa Fenn Gordenstein and she was a working mom, wife, sister and daughter.  She did not die in vain.  I promise you that.
None of the victims did. There are countless acts of charity and giving in their names. Their children, wives, husbands, parents and friends have been mobilized. They were mobilized by people just like you.

Good has come from your evil.  Good will continue to come from your acts.  More good than you could ever have imagined.

No one knows who was responsible for yesterdays deeds.  There will be finger pointing and theories but no one knows you. Yet.  The crime will be solved, of that I am sure.

Have you seen the new towers in New York City?  Our Marathon will shine again. It will be a sadder day as we remember those lost but we will keep putting one foot in front of the other.  More people will run. Money will continue to be raised for charity.  It will become a more elite, meaningful event. We will come out in crowds and cheer our runners on.  Again, I promise you that.

You killed an eight year old little boy named Martin.  Today I saw a picture of him on Facebook holding a sign he made in school that said "No more hurting people.  Peace."
This is the world he lived in.  He was born after September 11th 2001 and was raised in a post 9/11 world.  One of his classmates, or cousins, or his little sister, who is now missing a leg, will do something great in life in the name of Martin.   You will see. (or just maybe you won't be part of our physical world by then)   When I was little, neighborhood kids were afraid of creepy vans driving around our streets. Today, our kids are being reared on being diligent, safer, aware of the evil sub-humans in their world.  They are the generation that will repaint the American canvas.  They will never forget.  It is etched in their minds.  They will grow up and pay the hearts of our "one" forward.  They will be true Patriots because you created them.

You seek to send a message by blowing people up, by shooting innocent people, and by creating a sense of discontent.  You take the lives of the innocent.  You maim people and create traumatic disorders where there were none.

You are not quite industrious enough or bright enough to find a peaceful way to be heard.  We don't understand why you think hurting innocents will further your message, whatever it may be.

You accomplish the opposite.  We Americans understand that these heinous acts occur all over the world, but we live HERE.  We choose to stay in a free country full of free people with the ability to choose our leaders and have a voice.  We know we were lucky to be born here or to have immigrated here.  People cross borders to be here.

As we sit glued to our televisions we want to understand you.  We want to root you out.  We want the full weight of justice to fall on your head.  We look forward to the day our president can keep his promise and prosecute you.  We want your brothers in arms to see what happens to you.   At some point in the near future you will not smell fear, you will feel it.

I know two things about you.  You are male and you have no children.  I am glad you have no children.  Evolution is already taking care of you.

"e pluribus unum" Out of many, one.  We are one people.  We will, once again, rise up and look you in the eye.   We will cut the head off of your snake body.  We will mobilize and support the families you hurt and we will be a stronger, more resolved people BECAUSE of you.  

While on the tour of the United States Capitol we were, once again, struck by the history of our country,  at the sacrifice and forethought of our founding fathers we could almost hear echoed in the halls.   Someone told us what had happened and we "booked it" back to our car and began our eight hour journey home to our Boston. As we left DC my cell phone rang.  It was a  9/11 widow from New York calling to see if we were okay.  Our lives are better for knowing her.

There are gifts and humanity in the shadows of horror.


If you are an aspiring terrorist I ask you to think about your message.  I ask you to stop, look, and listen.
Can you hear us now?

Quite Sincerely,

A Boston Girl.