Boston Marathon bombings.......

[Corkey]

Regardless of who did it it was an act of terror. Foreign or domestic. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Our own family has folks from Boston, and is a runner. We do not know if he ran today, and are patiently waiting for word. Will wait patiently for word of the perp when it is verified.

[Massive]

My heart, thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Boston right now.

[Ginger]

It wasn't fun getting on the subway tonight after watching the news at my desk at work. There were a lot of cops on the platform. I work a block from the World Trade Center. I expect there will be a certain amount of increased security in that neighborhood tomorrow. I said to myself, when I heard the news, It's begun. Of course, it began a long time ago.

I can't imagine how people in Boston must feel. They must be wondering if their city is about to become Haifa or Tel Aviv or Kabul or London or Belfast.

This morning I read an op-ed piece in the New York Times that made me cry. A man who has been detained at Guantanamo for 11 years, along with about 40 others, is holding a hunger strike, and he wrote about being force fed so brutally he's vomiting blood.

The news isn't his treatment, the news is that news of his treatment broke through to the Times op-ed page. That's what the media is talking about.

And now whatever huge strategic victory that op-ed piece represented for that man and others held for a decade or more without a trial or even being charged, it's now overshadowed by the attack in Boston, and I am wondering if, in fact, the bombing in Boston has triggered even more brutal treatment of the people there.

So that's what I'm thinking about. That and the parents of the 8-year-old who died in the bombing today in Boston.

[Parker]

Saw this on Twitter - people offering shelter to those stranded in Boston with no place to go or stay: I have a place to offer -- in case anyone here is in contact with friends/family in Boston who need a soft place to land.

And Google person finder can help find loved ones or report that someone is with you.

[Kobi]

Martin Richard was standing near the finish line, waiting for his father to complete the grueling Boston Marathon on Monday, when an explosion took his life.

He was 8 years old and in the third grade.

Neighbor Jane Sherman told WCVB that Martin was a typical little boy, who loved to ride his bike and play baseball.

Martin's mother, Denise, was hospitalized with "grievous injuries," The Times of London reported. She reportedly underwent surgery late Monday for an injury to her brain.

His 6-year-old sister, a first grader whose name was not made public, lost her leg in the blast, WHDH reported.

The status of his father, William, has not been released. A third child was reportedly unharmed in the explosion.

The Richard family hails from the Ashmont section of Dorchester, Mass.

[~ocean]

~ it seems to me that the bombs were placed as the crowd gathered ~ or they would have been seen in plain sight ~ there was security at the bombing site ~ I agree w/ u all ~ domestic ~ if the word to bomb came from a terrorist organization ~ they succeeded in finding a domestic sick bastard to carry out the fatal task ~ they have an apartment in Revere, ma. in question ~ wich is right out of Boston by 7 miles approx. ~

[wahya]

I tell you I can't imagine what the families are going through. I had to sit on this before i could comment. I am a easy going person but like everyone else this went straight to my heart. and then my anger came out. Damn. So unbelievable. But I had stated in a post in here I was supposed to be there and I wanted to for the first time watch the runners come in instead of watching them run by my place (where I used to live) But someone did not come through with money they owed me. So..yeah i am thankful I did not go. But still feel so much pain for those people that lost their lives and their families. I had a hard time with things like this because I lost a friend who was kinda like a mother in the Killeen TX Luby's restaurant massacre she had taken her daughter and new granddaughter to lunch and the gunman came in and just started randomly shooting people unfortunately even when they tried to hide. He went under tables shooting people who were hiding too. So he found her under the table shielding her daughter and granddaughter and he bent down and shot her point blank in the head. Killed instantly. For awhile I did not want to go anywhere. I struggled with it. But eventually time helped with that. So now with me I feel I will not let ANY terrorist terrorize me from living my life as usual. I still plan on marching in the Gay Pride march & I plan on going to the hemp festival in Boston ( If they are not cancelled) Oh believe me I am not hiding from anyone. EVER. God Bless Boston.

[Rockinonahigh]

I sometimes wonder about humanity that someone could/would do this awfull thing to anyone,any type of violence to anyone is and always will be wrong nomatter how its done or where.It takes at biggest coward to have done this sort of thing,who ever you are out there that did this or had any part in doing this is one sick mofo in my opinion,AS an American and part of this country I refuse to take this anymore.Who ever you are You wont get away with this,I garentee that justice will be on you like nothing ever before,you may hide but weather in this life or the next you will pay for this at the time of reconing.Yes,I am pissed about this big time right along with a whole lot of other people.I take heart that I do know that 99.9% of us are good folks who wouldnt do a thing to harm a soul.I pray the FBI finds the culprit soon before he/she/ they do anymore damage to someone.

[StrongButch]

Tonight when the sun goes down I will do pipe ceremony and send my prayers up in smoke this is how I was taught to pray. I offer my prayers to everyone in Mass and ask everyone to take 5 minutes and say a prayer. I am going to share a Native Prayer with you. "Oh Great Spirit I raise my pipe to you. To your messengers the four winds,and to Mother Earth. Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love,to respect and to be kind to each other. So that they may grow with peace in mind"

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by Kobi

Martin Richard was standing near the finish line, waiting for his father to complete the grueling Boston Marathon on Monday, when an explosion took his life.

He was 8 years old and in the third grade.

Neighbor Jane Sherman told WCVB that Martin was a typical little boy, who loved to ride his bike and play baseball.

Martin's mother, Denise, was hospitalized with "grievous injuries," The Times of London reported. She reportedly underwent surgery late Monday for an injury to her brain.

His 6-year-old sister, a first grader whose name was not made public, lost her leg in the blast, WHDH reported.

The status of his father, William, has not been released. A third child was reportedly unharmed in the explosion.

The Richard family hails from the Ashmont section of Dorchester, Mass.

The initial report of the circumstances surrounding Martin's death were erroneous. Now, it is being reported that the father was not running in the race this year. The family were spectators.