Almost nothing is known about the Boston Marathon terrorist attack. So far, there has been some irresponsible speculation about right-wing extremists, but at this point, there isn't even agreement on how sophisticated the attack was. American law enforcement is world-class, and most assuredly, over the next few days, they will piece together who did this, how and why.
Still, there are a few points worth commenting on.
Ever since 9/11, terrorism has been a part of the American psyche. That traumatic event forever changed how we perceive the world. But while terrorism feels like a relatively new phenomenon, in reality, it has been around for a very long time.
Obviously, Israelis and others in the Middle East are quite familiar with terrorism. But so are Europeans, who for nearly 30 years watched the Provisional Irish Republican Army conduct attacks inside the United Kingdom. Similarly, the Tamil Tigers took suicide bombing to a new level in their 26-year-long conflict with the Sri Lankan government.
In many parts of the world, terrorism is simply a fact of life. One wonders whether or not that will ever be the case inside the United States. When one considers how many "soft targets" are available -- from buses and subways to schools and office buildings -- it is astonishing that massive attacks don't happen more often. What prevents someone from planting a bomb in or shooting up a crowded mall on Christmas Eve? Well ... nothing, really.
And that's what makes terrorism so scary. Simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be a death sentence. People don't like feeling powerless, and terrorism plays precisely on that fear.
Thankfully, there are relatively few people in the world who are willing to kill innocent people minding their own business. That's why terrorism mortality remains vanishingly small; indeed, Americans are far likelier to die from car accidents or suicide than by terrorism.
As we learn more about the Boston attacks in the days ahead, let's hope that the national media keeps this tragic event in its proper context.
(Image: AP)