Boston Bombing aftermath, any similarity to the Lincoln assassination aftermath?

[Gene C]

It's not so much defending Powell, it is puting what he did in context with who he was. He is more than just a name in a book or a character in a movie. He was a real person, with real feelings and thoughts. We don't condone what he did, but it does help us to understand history, what happened and why a little better, and to understand when history repeats itself.

(Young people commit horrendous acts, sometimes there are common circumstances behind their actions) It seems likely in this case, an older person who he looked up to encouraged him to do something he probably wouldn't have done otherwise. Unfortunately for Powell (and maybe the Boston Bomber) his let his sense of right and wrong be overcome by the infulence of someone he looked up to.