Boston shows the best of human nature

Viewpoint: Boston Globe (excerpt) Boston remembers its pain. The inscription on the back of the Beacon Hill memorial to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and his legendary Civil War regiment declares, “The memory of the just is blessed.” The plaque on the site of the Cocoanut Grove fire describes a “phoenix out of the ashes.” The Public Garden memorial to those who lost their lives on 9/11 proclaims, “The people of Massachusetts will always remember ...”

Rising to the occasion, enduring what must be endured, remembering all who suffered and lost their lives in times of strife — it is written into the fabric of the city. Bostonians are constantly confronted with the stoicism of those who came before. Monday’s assault on our greatest shared ritual, the Boston Marathon, will remain in the city’s memory forever. A renewed embrace of the fellowship of the global marathon will be Boston’s way of honouring those killed or injured.

The fact that the marathon takes place on Patriots Day may or may not have been a factor in the attack; it is, absolutely, a part of what makes the event unique, a celebration of both nature and history, the coming of spring and the region’s connection to the Revolutionary War. More than 20,000 athletes compete in the race. Unlike at most major sporting events, the spectators who line the 26.2 miles of the marathon course are not just cheering elite athletes; they’re cheering on friends and family members. Monday’s weather was spectacular for running, an invitation to go outside.

More than an athletic competition, the marathon is also a major charitable event. Elite runners had finished the race long before; most of those still on the course when the explosions occurred were dedicated amateurs, many of whom had presumably sought entry into the storied race to raise money for medical research and other worthy causes.

In targeting the marathon, an attacker or group of attackers came face to face with the city’s resilient spirit. People around the world saw it, as well. Such qualities and commitments are immutable; in confronting the worst of human nature, Boston will, as it did Monday, strive to live up to the best.