This past week was a week from hell. The Boston bombings never left anyone’s mind. Every time there is such a shocking attack in our country, we are all reminded of one thing: at any point in time, everything can change. When a threat to any part of the country is brought by a foreign or domestic terrorist, our country feels it together. Despite the horror that was felt by all as we became glued to any news outlet, I hope two particular lessons are learned by all affected by the attacks. First, kindness is the strongest weapon we have against terror. Second, no religion endorses terror.

I want to take some space to commend any and every person involved in the search, rescue and response in Boston. Those brave heroes put their own lives at risk to save others. There were so many reports of people running into the blast zone to find the injured, runners running straight to the hospital to donate blood and onlookers reuniting families and friends separated by the blasts. These are the stories I try to cling to when there are such tragedies in the world.

I have my quarrels and negative opinions about this country, and I have stated them numerous times. However, there is never a time when I am not proud to be an American. That pride does not stem from any laws or lack thereof but from the unity our country never seems to lose. This unity in the face of tragedy is what makes our country strong — that last thread in a fabric that keeps it from ripping, no matter what is done to it. Our country and its people are resilient because we have each other. It is not until we are faced with tragedy, though, that we remember this bond.

There has been a shadow cast on the religion of terrorism, and that is not something that should be condoned by any person possessing any faith or just simple common sense. [A tweet](http://twitter.com/LibyaLiberty/status/323888461524398080) sent by user @LibyaLiberty, which read “Please do not be a ‘Muslim,’” went viral after the attacks. This was immediately taken to be the hope of the entire Muslim community. It reminded me of a picture taken after the Benghazi attack of a young Libyan boy holding a sign reading, “This is not the behavior of our Islam or Profit.” These photos and these words are moving, but they are not necessary.

Terrorist acts or any heinous, violent crime is not in honor of any religion and should not be viewed as such. In a mass shooting, the shooter’s place of worship does not apologize on behalf of their entire religion, nor would they be expected to do so. People of all faiths were placed in danger by the Boston Marathon bombing, and people of all faiths empathized with the city. This was not done because of any one person’s faith, but because of the humanity in all of us.

When I was young, I was taught the United States was a place in the world free of religious intolerance and a safe haven for all religions to come together without fear of judgment or persecution. I said the Pledge of Allegiance in full belief that we were a nation not under a specific God but a god of many names. Of course, as I got older, I realized this was not the case in the real world, but I always have hoped that one day it will be.

It is not until we can see an act of terrorism as exactly that — not as a religious outcry — that we can begin to heal as one, as a nation. It is outrageous for an entire religion to be expected to apologize over the act of one person who happens to observe that said religion. In times of tragedy and in times of prosperity, it is important for our country to remember another great word given in the Pledge of Allegiance — “indivisible.”