A nation simultaneously gasped in horror as a senseless and gutless act punctured the heart of one of this country’s most iconic sporting events.

Two bombs that exploded less than two minutes apart transformed the finish line of the Boston Marathon, normally a site of jubilation with runners raising their arm in triumph at the conclusion of a grueling 26-mile run, into an outdoor triage unit and worse, a morgue. The site was splattered with blood, perhaps similar to the way it was more than 200 years ago when patriots paid the ultimate price for independence.

Three people lost their lives, including one 8-year-old boy whose smiling face will forever be the epitaph etched in the public’s mind of this most recent act of terrorism on American soil. Many others suffered serious injuries from the carnage of nails and ball bearings piercing their bodies from the explosion.

Speculation is rampant as to the identity and motivation of the coward or cowards who masterminded this tragedy. However, now is not the time to engage in the dialogue of racism, terrorism or any other invidious “ism” that is now filling the talk show airwaves.

Such nonsense is prejudicial, irresponsible and splinters a nation that was founded on the principles of equality for all.

Rather than polarize, now is the time to open our hearts to the victims and to embrace them under a canopy of sympathy, compassion and most important, prayer.

How ironic, in this modern day culture where God is trivialized and even portrayed as villainous by some, President Obama, in his first public remarks after the tragedy, called for the American people to join in prayer in this time of crisis.

How appropriate.

Let us not forget we are one nation, under God.