Tragedy, triumph in Boston separate

As a sophomore at Boston College, I have experienced first-hand the effects of the Boston Marathon bombings and the Red Sox’s World Series win (“To fans, Sox exemplify Boston’s resiliency; World Series title brings year ‘full circle’,” Nov. 1).

People from Toledo — my hometown; I am a 2012 graduate of St. Ursula Academy — might see these events as a tragedy and a triumph that have been connected through the city’s new unofficial motto: Boston Strong. Although there is no doubt that these two events have united and strengthened the city of Boston, the bombings united residents through a common hatred toward the alleged perpetrators, while the World Series united residents through the love of a sport.

After Game 7, the first questions many reporters asked the Red Sox players how they felt about the win in respect to the bombings. For many, this subtlety went unnoticed. But for the few who were most affected by the bombings, that was an insult.

Many of the victims of the bombings have spoken out against the use of the slogan, because they feel that their individual stories have been reduced to two words that are now associated with the Red Sox just as much as they are with the bombings.

The bombings and the win are two independent events connected by an advertising ploy. I ask those of you in Toledo to look past the slogan and see these events for their individual value.

KENDRA KUMOR

Sylvania