One of the many ways that I identify is as a mom of two boys. Brothers. And here we are again watching two brothers who were not as lucky in life as my boys are coordinating to wreak havoc on a city.
The differences between my sons and the Tsarnaev and Kouachi brothers are, of course, vast. My sons are third, fourth, fifth, and sixth generation Americans, depending on which grandparent you care to trace. All of my sons' grandparents identified as Christians (Roman Catholic on my husband's side; Anglican/Episcopalian on my side) and as Americans. The Tsarnaevs were Muslims from Russia and the Kouachis were orphans in France raised as Muslims. My husband and I work hard to insure that our boys will have a good education and will have friends and will live in a nice neighborhood with friends and will know what hard work is. The Kouachis, especially, live in a place where unemployment for young Muslim men is upwards of 25%. The Tsarnaevs took advantage of all that the Commonwealth has to offer, had a mom who was calling for Jihad.
I cannot stop thinking that if Tamerlan Tsarnaev hadn't been run over by his own brother during the shoot out in Watertown, that something an awful lot like what unfolded in Paris today would have happened in Watertown. It's likely that Tamerlan executed three people about six blocks from my house before the Boston Marathon bombing and the assassination of Sean Collier. So, really, what was next? You've gotten away with murdering 3 people and assassinating a security guard, what else can we do?
My younger son, Finn, would follow Jack anywhere. Jack would defend Finn to the death.
I can only try to keep them following the path of peace and faith and love and tolerance.
God help us all.
