April 15th, 2013: A day that will live in infamy. A day where three were killed and over one hundred seventy were injured. A day that will be remembered as a cowardly attack on innocent runners who were portraying the amazing capabilities of the human species.

On April 15, 2013, a bomb exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. While most people suspect this incident to be a heinous act of terror, no one knows for sure. But what we do know is that tragic events like this tend to bring out the best in us.

In the aftermath of the explosion, it was reported that, instead of fleeing, people rushed to the scene to do what they can to help the victims of the explosion. People used their clothes as tourniquets for those who were suffering from severe blood loss, a group of medical students who were in the area heard the blast and immediately ran to the scene to assist injured victims, and runners who finished early rushed to Mass General Hospital to donate their blood. The American Red Cross later tweeted, “Thanks to generosity of volunteer blood donors there is currently enough blood on the shelves to meet demand. #BostonMarathon.”

These acts of kindness, selflessness and altruism speak volumes about humankind. While many lose faith in humanity in the face of tragic events like this, I gain hope. I remember that despite the fear that was instilled in the wake of the explosion and while a disturbing amount of destruction was caused, people in large numbers showed up to aid those who were hurt. 

But with all the speculation, I think there’s a bigger picture that’s being painted. The main objective of people who commit acts of terror is to play into people’s fears. Acts of terror are designed to make you feel as if you’re not safe and that the government doesn’t have the means to protect you. No matter how many people are killed and how many are injured, as long as you’re scared, the perpetrators succeed.

The acts of valor, kindness, and compassion, though, show a different story. They show the strength of the will of the people. They show a population that says enough is enough and that they are no longer content with living a life of fear. They show that even during some of the most adverse times we’ve been facing as a nation, we can overcome anything.

The night of the explosion, President Barack Obama made a statement that resonated with my sentiment. He said, “We also know this — the American people refuse to be terrorized. Because what the world saw yesterday in the aftermath of the explosions were stories of heroism and kindness, and generosity and love…So if you want to know who we are, what America is, how we respond to evil — that’s it. Selflessly. Compassionately. Unafraid.”

The only way we can defeat terrorism is if we refuse to be terrorized. Brian Schneier, a security expert who was interviewed by The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein, summed it up beautifully, “If you are scared, they win. If you refuse to be scared, they lose.”

I believe the tides are turning. I believe the way we respond to events like this is changing. We’ve recognized that we can no longer be victims of cowardly attacks, nor can we continue to live in fear.  

We are America. The land of the free and the home of the brave. A nation that is finally learning that we must refuse to be scared and whose finest days always come after our darkest hours.

Matt is a freshman in LAS. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @matthewpasquini.