10 Comments

1. 

   Tom Sheff on April 19, 2013 at 11:31 pm

   I want to thank the town of watertown and all the surrounding cities for catching this guy. Especially the first responders, you guys are awesome!!!!! Everyone communicating collaboratively and with the public as good as anything I’ve ever seen. They used the tv stations to update the public, it was great to see. Kudos to everyone involved…a job well done!!!!!

   • 

     Gail Spector on April 20, 2013 at 7:27 am

     Agreed that the public safety officials were amazing and deserve our eternal gratitude. I’m also blown away that so many people cooperated with the shelter-in-place request. I did go out for a short time yesterday — I had to take my daughter to the doctor in Weston and because I live on the south side of Newton, I felt pretty confident that I was staying out of harm’s way by going through Needham. Needham Street was deserted. The only two businesses I saw open were Dunkin’ Donuts and National Lumber. There were police cars everywhere, including Needham and Weston.

     I was glued to the TV even though I was going crazy listening to non-experts speculate on things they knew nothing about. I understand why local affiliates covered these events all day, but CNN really should have been covering other news — like the tragedy in West, Texas — as well. When broadcast media outlets choose to cover something nonstop, they end up filling in the inevitable gaps with pointless information at best, and more likely, harmful misinformation.

2. 

   Ted Hess-Mahan on April 20, 2013 at 8:18 am

   Reasons to be thankful:

   City, State and Federal officials and law enforcement who worked together and kept the public informed and, most importantly, got the job done.

   First responders who ran toward danger when everyone else was running away.

   MIT Police officer Sean Collier, who gave his life to protect the public.

   MBTA Police officer Richard Donohue, Jr., who risked his life and was seriously injured while protecting the public.

   The vast majority of Greater Boston residents who voluntarily remained in their homes so that law enforcement officers could pursue the suspects, without whining about it.

   The guy in Watertown, who looked under his boat cover before calling the police, when he probably should have dialed 911 first, and, thankfully, will be telling that story to his grandchildren.

   So far, none of our elected officials are using this whole terrible event as a political football

   That if you mess with Boston, we will stop everything and we will find you.

   The police found a way to take him alive. There has already been enough senseless killing. We do not need to become like them to have justice.

3. 

   Doug Haslam on April 20, 2013 at 10:05 am

   What a day, what a week- I’m in the Charlesbank area of Newton Corner, so had the honor of being on the edge of the perimeter with police vehicles whizzing by my street once they cornered the suspect – not to mention the constant sound of sirens and helicopters all day.

   I went out once, just before they lifted the shelter order (shh) to feed a neighbor’s cat- on Maple St, Watertwon, which I was told was later filled with police and feds as part of the perimeter- Maple leads right to the river road, so I assume they were trying to keep people out of Watertown Sq at that point.

   Long day, but a great job by all levels of law enforcement.

   Today, to celebrate the freedom from the lockdown, I shall be staying on my couch to watch people go nuts for the Bruins, Red Sox and Celtics.

   • 

     Gail Spector on April 20, 2013 at 11:09 am

     The calls for a parade all over Facebook are very disturbing. Winning sports teams are something to celebrate and parades allow fans – especially the ones who can’t afford to attend the games – the chance to share the “feel good” atmosphere. There are probably many appropriate ways to acknowledge public safety officials but a parade is not one of them. We owe a world of gratitude to so many people, but there is nothing to celebrate. This is not a victory. There are no winners.

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     Greg Reibman on April 20, 2013 at 2:15 pm

     Here’s a note Newton North’ s principal Jennifer Price just sent to that school community…

     Dear North Community,

     It is hard to imagine that on Monday morning we will attempt to get back to normal as we return to school after a very challenging, unsettling and concerning week. There are so many questions that remain, so many issues that are so difficult to address, and so much that makes us feel vulnerable. Surely our students are feeling all of these emotions and are trying to process what this means for them and their world, as they know it. It is hard that we do not have the answers. It is hard that we too are trying to make sense of that which makes no sense.

     Yet, as I know from personal experience after losing my mother and stepfather on 9/11, getting back to the routines of life is so important. Routine often allows each of us to reconstruct our sense of security and belonging. For our students, the act of getting up early, attending classes and reconnecting with their friends may be comforting and reassuring. We also know that everyone processes these types of situations very differently and that there is no correct way to handle the aftermath of such a tragedy.

     Our plan for Monday is to observe a moment of silence at the beginning of C block to honor those who lost their lives and were injured as a result of these horrific acts. In these situations, it feels important to have a moment where we stop and acknowledge what has happened around us. It also gives students a time to discuss the situation with their teacher(s). We will also have counselors available all day in their offices to help students who may need additional space to process this situation. If your child is having a particularly difficult time or was personally impacted by this tragedy, please take a moment to reach out to his/her counselor on Monday so we can work together to provide support. I have also attached a number of resources that might help you as you address this situation as a family.

     Please know that we will do our best to support our students during this difficult time. I know that we are a resilient nation and city and we will move on from this challenging time. Yet, I also know that we will never forget the lives lost and the fact that in the face of adversity our nation comes together.

     Thank you, as always, for being our partners in this process. It is never easy, but in these most challenging times, our commitment to working together and supporting one another is what allows us to keep going.

     Best,
     Jennifer Price
     Principal

4. 

   Hoss on April 20, 2013 at 11:31 am

   Gail Spector — I agree with you about an organized parade. But the question does challenge us to compare homeland acts of war with overseas acts. We have in the past had parades for returning soldiers after all.

   Here’s a journalist question; why was it appropriate for some journalists to publish pictures of maimed victims of this week’s bombing yet we no longer have any images of overseas victims of war? One image showed a man with two legs missing, lots of blood, bones and veins visible. Isn’t that image more fitting for the (enjoyment of) the enemy than (for the education of) us?

   My preference would be to let us again use war photo-journalists such that acts of war, including our own acts are part of our understanding of what’s happening. (For lots of reasons) What do you say??

   • 

     Gail Spector on April 21, 2013 at 8:28 pm

     @Hoss: I’m inclined to agree with you. I’m not a big fan of censorship.

     I’m not familiar with the guidelines about war-related photos, so I don’t want to comment too specifically about what’s appropriate where. I personally don’t think that publishing war-related photos would be a bad thing. They’re all over the place in works of fiction. Why should the real thing be hidden?

5. 

   mgwa on April 20, 2013 at 5:31 pm

   One of the most touching things I’ve ever seen was the crowd in Watertown applauding law enforcement and shouting out “thank you”. Heartfelt and enthusiastic appreciation.

6. 

   Mike (not Striar) on April 22, 2013 at 6:35 pm

   WRT to the photos any honest media should show the horrors of war and terrorism alike. Or people can continue to live their little lies.

   I think we should be mindful of at what cost they were caught. Personally the paramilitary presence from all I have heard and seen in a search for one 19 year old was over the top. I’m not comfortable with our police departments driving convoys of armored vehicles through our streets aiming rifles at citizens. And though few, the incidents of forcibly clearing houses and treating residents like criminals (on youtube), are disconcerting at best. I understanding this wasn’t the case the majority of the time, but this is something we absolutely should not accept as OK.

   Someone here tell me it would be cool with you if your wife, husband, kids, etc have some cop pointing an AR15 at their face while in their own home
   https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/431919_518478678189638_149563025_n.jpg

   I’m grateful they caught the guy, and I’m not trying to monday morning quarterback. But let’s remember that a homeowner ultimately found him and phoned police. Are we going to be OK with whenever someone dangerous is on the run the police using it as an excuse to search/ransack houses, aim guns at family members, and check papers? That’s not the country I want to live in.

   Mike