Terrorism: We shall not bow down

We have by now all heard of the horrors unleashed upon the great city of Boston. A city now inducted into a club of cities and countries directly touched by terrorism. We have seen the graphic pictures and videos of the bombing and its horrors on the TV. The injuries and the sad loss of life during the Boston Marathon finish. And the tragic loss of an 8-year-old boy who only wanted to hug his father as he crossed the finish line, but was tragically cut down by a bomb put there by cowards bent on unleashing terror. At last count, 174 people were injured and three dead. This sad count will go up as time goes on.

There is no doubt in my mind that this was an act of terrorism. The details remain to be unraveled, but what is clear already is that terrorism was the intent. I hope that the people responsible are caught, tried, convicted and sent to prison for life.

But we must send those who did this one simple message. We will not give in to terrorism. Ever. You have failed. The people of Boston are doing just that. By their unselfish heroism in saving the lives of those injured in the blasts. EMTs, firefighters, police, National Guard soldiers and people form the stands who ran toward the chaos. Tearing down barricades to get to the injured and the maimed.

The doctors, nurses and volunteers who were working the aid stations for the marathon, which were geared for typical runner injuries like twisted ankles, blisters, exhaustion and dehydration, were thrust into doing battlefield triage and emergency treatment for the critically wounded after bombs went off. All of these people and more showed the world that the people of Boston are at their best when things are at their absolute worst. The terrorist failed there.

The next day people went about their business. In a state of shock to be sure. Yet many interviewed were determined not to let the events of the 15th get to them. It was their way of fighting back. The terrorist failed yet again.

Time will be the terrorist’s downfall. They will be found. They will be captured and brought to justice. They will be removed from our society when tried and convicted in a court of law. And put into a prison for the rest of their lives.

Terrorists try to infuse fear and terror by violent means. Bombs are one of the most common ways of spreading such fear. We must not give in to them. We will carry on. Those in Boston will have another Patriots Day. They will stage another Marathon next year. They will gather together to see a baseball game and cheer their team on.

Oh they will keep an eye out for those who would spoil it. And take appropriate measures to keep themselves secure. They will not let those thugs have the upper hand. And neither should we. We will not let them. We as in all Americans and all freedom loving people on this planet. And that is what they are, thugs. The lowest of the low. We must not give in to the fear and terror they try to spread.

There is a quote about standing up to fear from one of my favorite authors that is perfect at this time. It is from Frank Herbert’s 1965 science fiction masterpiece “Dune.” In the book, the “Litany Against Fear is used by a quasi-religious sisterhood from a far flung future empire in space. It goes like this:

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind- killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing… Only I will remain.”

We shall remain. Remain free. As Americans should.

Wasilla resident Daniel D. Grota retired from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of service.