The first shot fired by the patriots on the Concord North Bridge near Boston, Mass., in 1775 has been described as the "shot heard 'round the world" and the beginning of the American Revolution. This historic event also represents the birth of a fledgling Nnation, one driven soundly by the quest for personal freedoms and democratic ideals.
Another "shot heard 'round the world" happened in the proud City of Boston on the day of the one of the country's most famous athletic events, the Boston Marathon. This time, however, there was no Paul Revere around to alert the unsuspecting citizenry of an impending attack, nor did the attackers, whom we now refer to as "terrorists," reveal themselves and their intentions. With no rules of engagement for waging what many call an act of war, the cowardly bombings that took place near the finish line of one of Boston's finest traditions took and maimed the lives of many innocent victims. And in the context of what occurred not too far from Boston in 1775, this terrible act can be viewed as an assault on the very "personal freedoms and democratic ideals" that the patriots of America's colonial times so bravely fought to obtain.
On this tragic day and its immediate aftermath, ripples of terror could be felt across the nation and the world. But the City of Boston did not stand still, nor did it give up and surrender. True to its history, Bostonians, along with so many "friends of Boston," rose to the occasion just like their revolutionary ancestors during the period of our country's birth. Once again, the people of Boston demonstrated, individually and collectively, that they are a true beacon of hope and inspiration for the nation and the world. Moreover, they showed that "Boston Strong" is much more than a simple tagline; on the contrary, it comes with deep meaning and is an undeniable force to be reckoned with!
It is no wonder that one of Boston's most historic neighborhoods is called "Beacon Hill." Symbolically, especially at such an important time in Boston's history, one could not choose a better name -- one that conjures up fitting images of hope, inspiration, and innovation. And for a city that prides itself as being the "Athens of America" because of its vast intellectual and cultural roots and resources which, we should add, include its longstanding commitment to the Boston "Marathon," another direct link to Greek antiquity, the image of Boston following the recent tragic events will not be tarnished. On the contrary, the defiant spirit of Bostonians, like the Spartans in ancient Greece, will not allow that to occur and, as a result, the image of their great, beloved City will only become stronger!
It is against this backdrop and within this resilient environment that the Boston Global Forum comes into existence. Indeed, there is no better place than Boston to engage the best minds from around the world to solve problems in positive, innovative, and meaningful ways. There is no better time than now to leverage the expertise and resources found within and linked to Boston in service to humanity. Both the nation and the world are looking to Boston and observing how it responds to life's most formidable challenges. The Boston Global Forum is an integral part of this response and, importantly, is destined to become a true manifestation of the deeper meaning of "Boston Strong."
Dr. Alex Pattakos is the co-founder of The OPA! Way® paradigm of "Living & Working with Meaning" and the OPA! Center for Meaning in Santa Fe, New Mexico USA. A practicing political scientist, he is also a co-founding member of a new nonprofit entity, the Boston Global Forum, an international network of thought leaders, both academic and practitioners, who collaborate online and in person for the purposes of identifying, discussing, and proposing meaningful, creative, and practical solutions to issues of global concern. You can find out more about Dr. Pattakos, author of the international best-selling book "Prisoners of Our Thoughts," in his full bio.
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