Previous good reputation does not negate horrors of alleged crime
Once the suspects of the Boston Marathon bombing were identified and last week’s dramatic manhunt began, our nation sought to find out everything about these individuals. Even at this point, a great deal is left to be understood about the Tsarnaev brothers regarding their character, possible affiliations with international organizations and motives. The greatest shock seems to be to those who knew the younger brother, stating that they never could have fathomed that he would be capable of the evil crimes he was charged with Monday.
Dzhokar Tsarnaev, whose manhunt forced all of Boston into a lockdown Friday until his surrender, seemed an average college student. The news is full of testimonies from former high school friends and fellow university students saying he was normal and social. Some have suggested his brother brainwashed him into committing the crimes they’re suspected of committing. But this portrayal shifts responsibility from Dzhokar Tsarnaev and almost makes him out to be a victim when, if he’s convicted, he should be forced to share equal responsibility with his brother.
Dzhokar Tsarnaev is, in a way, more dangerous because he was able to deceive those around him until the point of his arrest. His older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, said he did not have a single American friend and was unable to understand his peers. He had been investigated by FBI based on a warning from Russia in 2011, a description that aligns with someone who would be capable of a terrorist attack or deadly bombing. The danger lies in the public’s inability to look past the seemingly normal identity of a college student and athlete and to accept what he’s accused of. A college student and athlete with a good reputation among peers is an image many of us can relate to, making Dzhokar Tsarnaev’s alleged atrocities difficult to understand.
In the days following the bombing, Dzhokar Tsarnaev carried on unphased in the everyday activities of a college student. He attended his classes, went to the gym and was seen at a party on Wednesday night. His friends reported they joked about what, at the time, they simply believed to be similarities between Dzhokar Tsarnaev and the suspect in images released by police. His ability to conduct himself normally with no signs of remorse after allegedly killing three people and injuring hundreds would be a horrifying testament to how twisted he is, should he be convicted. Feelings of compassion should be directed toward those who were affected by the bombings, not placed with the person that is accused of hurting them.