Precious Cargo!
I had some blog thoughts in mind this week, but after the mindless tragedy in Boston, somehow they just seemed too trivial to post at this time. I think about my family… my lovely daughter, my handsome son and I wonder what I would do if some evil being harmed them. Truth be told, I do not know what I would and I hope I never have to find out. That said, I think I would require and eye for an eye. Vengeance is not pretty, but justice is necessary.
Life is ephemeral at best and you cannot mandate or legislate, goodness or common sense. Evil exists in this world whether you believe in it or not. If your are lucky enough not to have been touched by it, count your blessings… but be prepared. Deserving has nothing to do with how the universe treats us. We are fortunate to live in a society governed for the most part by the rule of law. That said, the veneer of civilization is very thin and the the last analysis, personal vigilance is all that will protect us and our loved ones.
I hope that the guilty responsible for the horrific tragedy in Boston are quickly found, tried, convicted and disposed of like the garbage they are. Have a nice day!
Here in my little world, things are considerably brighter today. I am in Florida and the boys and I are getting ready to play the Wanee Festival in Live Oak, Florida. If nothing else, Hot Tuna is always ready to play. Always have been… always will be! I will write more bout this tonight after the show.
Living in the moment requires a smile and I’ve got mine on.
Onward!
Amen, Brother
“That said, the veneer of civilization is very thin and the the last analysis, personal vigilance is all that will protect us and our loved ones. ”
Nay, kind Sir. It is best to make a friend of God because the only security is in Him.
This is my birthday, me and Jack, the Aries!
It’s good to know that your daughter made it through the finish line, and you and your family made it through the terrorist attack. It must have been horrible to witness the attack and aftermath.
There are indeed, many more good people than bad, however to quote from the above blog-post:
“…Evil exists in this world… If you’re lucky enough not to have been touched by it count your blessings…but be prepared.”
That is the point of my comments. More evil exists and is created in this world, each day. More than just a few: many and more exist to terrorize and interrupt the world of good people. If only we could cordon off the evil ones into a defined place and not have to concentrate on the possibility of them bringing their evil across the border to the place of goodness.
However: that is wishful thinking and would leave the good unprepared for the intrusion of the evil.
The weight of that evil is on the shoulders of the good and innocent.
@Bill FIsher
Happy Birthday to Jack and greetings to all at FPR.
My daughter crossed the finish line abut 3 mnutes before the first explosion, and we heard the bombs go off from a block away. I was sick at the thought that my daughter could have been killed. But as we in MA reminded ourselves repeatedly last week, there are many more good people than bad, and the many stories of compassion and generosity that have emerged from this event should be given more weight than the horrific acts of an insane few. If you’re looking for good folks, btw, FPR is one place to find them.
@eaglesteve
A good quote.
I’m still pissed off about the terrorist attack in Benghazi in which our Ambassador and other Americans were murdered.
The lack of protective measures, even after the Ambassador pleaded with The Oval Office for an upgrade in security.
The President initially blamed the attack on a protest against an anti-Muslim video that never existed.
Former Secretary Of State, Hillary’s Clintonian testimony:
“What difference does it make?!”
HooRah Captain. Well said, as usual.
To Barbara J:
“Blessed that we might think what we would, and speak what we thought”
Peter Zenger, New York City colonial priner, publisher, editor, and journalist, well before the American revolution
Are double posts frowned pon Steve? @Steve Levnson
Amen Steve @Steve Levnson
Yes, I agree with that John B.
I utilized Jorma’s blog comments section, in order to keep a real-time reportage of the reports/footage that I was watching on the t.v. news channels; because I was not in the Boston/Mass. area yesterday.
As you might have noticed, today some different “facts” are being reported by officials.
Jorma’s blog comments section is where I chose to post because it’s not going to be censored nor have my comments wiped clean.
Jorma will be home soon and he will post his own comments about the terrorist attack and subsequent events. He may agree with some of my observations and opinions. Certainly, Jorma will have his own thoughts and opinions.
In any case, my freedom to post comments and opinions here on Jorma’s blog site comments section, will be considered.
Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World.
Hot Tuna is always ready to play Jorma says . How true that is . I am always ready be there when they do. Long Live Hot Tuna and Happy Birthday Jack. See you soon!
Turns out that the lock-down and intensive door-to-door search didn’t actually lead to the discovery of the terrorist.
The terrorist was found by a homeowner who went into his backyard, after the lock-down was lifted. He saw a large gash in the boat cover, however vigilant he was he’s lucky he didn’t get his head blown off when he looked inside the boat.
The press-conference after the terrorist was taken into custody raised some of the same questions that I’d been having:
A reporter asked about the scope and duration of the lock-down, and the area covered by the search. The answers given were that: they “never gave the all-clear announcement”, they “just advised that it was O.K. to go outside but to be vigilant”.
And: “The suspect elluded them because he was hiding just outside the perimiter of the search area. One block away from the intensive search area” (of a twenty block section of Watertown.)
And obviously, not even a patrol car search of the streets outside that area, nor a fly-over by helicoptors to scope out the neighborhood for possible good hiding places (such as: inside a covered boat, in a residential backyard.)
So the residents were locked-down everywhere, however not even Watertown was searched in its entirety, before lock-down was lifted.
My friends were scared and felt helpless to defend their families within their own homes. They were afraid to go out after lock-down was lifted because the suspect was still at large, armed and dangerous.
Meanwhile the terrorist was bleeding to death, hiding in that boat for probably 20 hours, where he would have died because the search wasn’t thorough enough.
(In my opinion.)
The Police Department and FBI were brave and did their jobs, just didn’t search far-and-wide enough.
9pm: The Mayor tweets: “We got him”.
The crowd applauds and whoops it up on the street by the barricades.
Terrorist murderer, finally apprehended: The new spectator sport.
I’m disgusted by the whole thing. An excercise in media coverage with the public
standing by to cheer the resolution.
8:33pm:
#1 HUGE MISTAKE MADE BY FBI AND POLICE: Not searching the boat.
They went door-to-door, garage-to-garage-, dumpster-to-dumpster —
yet they lifted the lock-down without searching that boat,which is clearly visible from the front of the road, and driveway heading to that backyard.
There’s a garage back there, too. Did they just walk by that boat, search the garage; and then move on?!
#2 HUGH MISTAKE MADE BY FBI AND POLICE:
I see crowds of people gathered behind police barricades, they look like ordinary civilians. GET THOSE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET!
If that boat goes up in a suicide bombing, the streets are lined with trees in bloom, kindling for spreading flames from the resultant fires.
7:10pm:
PEOPLE OF WATERTOWN, MA.:
You all get back inside now! Nevermind the announcement of lock-down lifted just an hour ago.
It appears that there’s a shoot-out going on, some guy hiding out on a boat, docked in a residential backyard.
Excuse me: 12 hours of lock-down, intensive door-to-door searching — and boats were not included in that search?!
That’s a sorry state of affairs.
6:10pm:
Well, the Mayor of Boston and Police Dept. just televised an announcement.
the lock-down is over. They haven’t caught the other terrorist yet.
But the people of Boston are now free to go outside (but, “be vigilant”).
I ask my friends if they are going out:
“No”, is the answer. Nobody wants to get caught in a possible cross-fire or come home to find that there has been a break-in. They are still scared.
If you pray, then pray for the residents of Boston.
In any case, have thoughts about them.
We still have the right to think our thoughts and express them.
6pm EST:
I’ve been hearing from some friends who live in Boston. They are locked inside their homes, very scared; wondering when they can go outside again (to buy groceries, take their kids to the park, walk/play outside…)
They tell me: “We wish you were here.” (Because I have licenses for pistol and rifle, target/residence/carry.)
That’s a sorry state of affairs.
Meeting has been postponed. Nobody wants to talk about anything else.
1:36pm EST and counting…
ALL of Boston is in lock-down mode as of the last several hours.
It’s now 12:36 EST.
Is the terrorist still in Boston?
I have a meeting to go to and I’m glued to the t.v., nowhere near Boston or Mass.
Everybody is talking about this, it’s going to be a very distracted meeting.
@John Foote
John is this really the right time to bring up the gun debate? People need to work through their grief, perhaps we can hold off on politics for a day or so.
A MIT campus police officer caught up with them at MIT. More violence and murder ensues, until one is shot dead. The other is on the lam in Watertown.
Around 5:50am Boston goes into lock-down mode, residents of Watertown, Newton,Waltham,Belmont, Cambridge, and Arlington- Brighton neighborhoods are instructed to stay indoors.
If I lived in that area, I’d be doing more than watching the news:
Locked and loaded. Because that other terrorist is looking to hide somewhere and if he breaks into my house: BANG!
Where has he been hiding-out for the last 5 daylight hours?
one down one to go
Ahhh…Living in the moment. We humans have a hard time with that. Thank you for reminding me that it does require a smile. I’ll try to remember that when next I find my mind somewhere other than where I am. A great message, Jorma!
God I love Hot Tuna. Have a wonderful performance!
Love is the real nuclear bomb that destroys enemies.
Jorma- I gravitated over to your diary here knowing full well you would leave an insightful commentary on the horrid attack at the Boston Marathon and you stepped up to the plate in a mighty fashion. I know you always dug the vibe of your Boston gigs (enjoyed a few during my B.U. days) but more than that, you hit the nail on the head conveying your emotion on the good ‘ol American value of heavy handed righteous justice over evil. We the grass roots patriots prevailed over those who wanted to use a tragedy to push their own political agenda against our 2nd Amendment rights this week and we will prevail over those who committed this evil act as well with a righteous sword of American justice. Best wishes for a great gig at Wanee. Say hello to Barry and the Boys for me!
Dear Jorma,
Well said! An eye for an eye! Sometimes a little Wild West justice is necessary!
Enjoy Wanee!
Best,
Cyndy
We all have so much to be thankful for and most of all is our children and grandchildren, life is beautiful but fragile.Eye for an Eye is right!
I agree with Doug the song,”Genesis” the the best song ever! Rock on!
For a good discussion of personal vigilance, pick up “The Unthinkable” by Amanda Ripley.
Sorry for the double post. Thought of this as I was hitting “submit”.
Evil exists for sure. The devil’s greatest trick was convincing people he doesn’t exist.
Well said Jorma. While I would like to think violence shouldn’t begat violence, I imagine I would share your sentiment, as would thousands of fathers across this land.
Jorma a part of you was on the course Monday, Genesis came on right after I had kissed the beautiful girls from Oregon who attend Wellesley. I’m still weeping from Monday, a horrific chaotic event that has broken my heart, yet the beauty of mankind in the best form, people sacrificing themselves for safety and comfort of others. May God grant us all Peace. I will go back again, and Jorma, once again you will be on the playlist.
Well said, Jorma. As always.
Awesome post Jorma. As I get older I realize how precious life is. And I’m sure Electric Hot Tuna will kick ass at Wanee, as they always do.
By the way, I was listening to Genesis from the Birthday show at the Beacon, one of the best pieces of live music I’ve heard anywhere, period.