today is Patriots' Day

Today is Patriots' Day, anniversary of the "shot heard 'round the world," the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first battles of the American Revolution. As a kid growing up a minuteman's march away from Concord, we got a heavy dose of colonial history at pretty much every grade level. But I knew this day for primarily three reasons: we got the day off from school, the Red Sox always had a day game, and the Boston Marathon was being run.

So today's explosions at the marathon really hit home at a very visceral level. Like someone is reaching back into my childhood and ripping that illusion of safety and predictability right away from my six-year-old eyes.

I am stricken on behalf of those who were killed, injured, or otherwise traumatized today, and their families and friends. And I am mad as hell at whoever thought they'd like to make a statement by doing this on Patriots' Day. Get this straight: you are not a patriot. You are a disgusting piece of filth. And the only revolution you're going to trigger is a renewed sense of common decency and compassion for our fellow human beings.