Don't Commercialize This Tragedy

This past week, we lived through the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings, the loss of Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell and Lingzi Lu.  The horrific injuries to scores of others that day.  The bravery of first responders and average citizens who risked their own lives and stepped in to treat the victims with no regard for their own safety, not knowing if there would be additional explosions.  The professionalism of health care providers at some of the world’s best hospitals who went above and beyond to save lives.

The Boston Marathon bombings were the focus of media reports around the world.  This was the biggest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

All week, Bostonians banded together, with the support of what seems to be the rest of the world.  Religious leaders, the Mayor, the Governor, and even the President spoke at an interfaith service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.  We were not to be defeated.  We are Boston Strong.

Then, last Thursday night into Friday morning, Greater Boston was shut down as Federal, State, and local law enforcement hunted for the remaining suspect of Monday’s crime.  This time, it was personal.  MIT Officer Sean Collier was murdered by the two bombing suspects.  He was just doing his job, working a Thursday night shift. One suspect died, the other was apprehended. Boston and it surrounding cities and towns were held to a standstill.  That’s okay, there was a direct danger to anyone in the area.  These professionals had to do what they did.  If they didn’t, there could have been more deaths.  We understood.  After the capture, the police were cheered by crowds as they left Watertown.

Nobody will forget the crowd singing the National Anthem at the Bruins games this week.  Certainly, nobody will forget David Ortiz and his emotions at Saturday’s Red Sox game.

Boston Strong.  Has a ring to it.  I like it.  That’s where I think we have a problem, Boston.

I thought back to the fall of 2001.  I was working in the fire equipment industry in the months after 9/11.  I traveled around the country, and some of my travels were to trade shows.  Patriotism was certainly prevalent in those times, and every show would have vendors that sold anything that said FDNY, New York, Never Forget.  Anyone (including a terrorist) could by a T-shirt that looked exactly like those worn by New York firefighters.  Those shirts are still available today.

Why do I tell you this and what is the problem?  Walking through these shows after the attacks on our country, I realized that most, not all, of these vendors were lining their own pockets and making money on the tragedy of 9/11 and the public outpouring of sympathy for those affected by the attacks.  Believe me, I know there were many good people and groups who sold items that contributed money to the victims.  But there were those who just simply did it to make money.

I hope that anyone who is considering creating anything that supports the people of Boston and the victims of this act of terrorism don’t do it for their own financial gain.  Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino have announced the formation of The One Fund Boston, Inc. to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013. Their website is onefundboston.org.  Let’s hope that anyone who is thinking of selling anything to show the resilience of the City of Boston and its people donate 100% of their profits to The One Fund Boston.

It’s the Boston Strong thing to do.