We're pretty used to it, in a way. At least, I grew up during a period when the IRA was regularly bombing London and other cities. So it doesn't come as that much of a shock. It's nice that we've had nearly 20 years without it happening, but more would have been too much to ask.
It is beyond my understanding why the people who do such things don't get that such actions are counterproductive to communication and understanding. But perhaps their purpose is simply to instill fear and hatred in the hearts of the people left alive.
I bet there are a lot of Muslims who are groaning at the stupidity of the perpetrators.
It is a counterproductive thing to do, and the more it happens the less impact it has. I remember when my home town of Manchester was bombed - they took out a *lot* of the city centre - and we mostly felt *annoyed* because of all the expense and bother of rebuilding.
But yes, it does make me worry about the country's Muslems. They face enough prejudice as it is, and this is not going to make it better.
You've probably seen it, but what the Londoners seem to be most upset about is the message the terrorists put out, saying that there was panic in London and in the South, and North and etcetc. Someone said, "We're British. We don't do panic."
So I think right now is check-in time, make sure everyone's okay. But then it's "goddamn we have to rebuild the underground" time. And "Well, at least it wasn't the IRA" time.
You're right. I'm more worried for British Muslims.
Well I got in touch with the family, and they're fine. I've not heard back from most of my friends, but that's because they're lazy bastards who never check their email. And so far as I know, everyone's fine. Mostly they'd have had no reason to be in London. So I'm thinking it's all good.
Indeed we don't. We make tea. The plumbers were here today, they had the news on the radio, we agreed it was terrible, and I made them tea. Nothing else one can do, really.
Im so suprised with the reactions im reading here. I mean, i guess it just goes to show the diffrences in culture. cuz man, we get bombed we get pissed. Im un-used to the reaction of annoyed. its...diffrent, and adds a new perspective. I haven't thought about it enough to tell weather i feel invading countries or anoyynce is the better answer, but i can definatly see how the responce of, "aw man, now how am i gonna get to work on time" could realy take the wind outa a terrorist sails.
Yeah, well, the Brits have had a lot more experience with this sort of thing, and know what helps and what doesn't. We Americans, having felt safe for so long, were bound to go off half-cocked, and start shooting at anything that moved -- especially if it smelled of political expedience and oil prices.
Sorry about the cynicism. I caught a bad case of it back in the sixties, and never really recovered.
lol, your cynicism is compleatly understood. while i suported our country in the beginning with its endevors, i believe very much that we are not fighting the war the american puplic was origanaly told about. our goals have been compleatly changes under the guise of security and i believe weve lost quite a it of freedome and a large pice of what america use to be. So I completly agree with your ideas. wow, that all would sound so much more intellegent if i merely could spell.
It's very calm here in central London, strangely so, even for us British.
One of the problems now is that nobody knows to which First Aid unit all the casualties went. Lots of people can't get any word their friends and (in my case) family. And yet even I'm acting calm. Can't really explain it - the reaction's weird, and yet in some ways there's nothing seems weird about it.
All part of the quintessential stiff upper-lip, I guess.
Finally got word from my dad - he was on one of the bombed trains, but he's fine and alive and eating toast at the moment. Thanks for your prayers. *hugs*
And he's heading back off the work today on the Underground, along with most of the working population. Despite the loss of life, it's almost like nothing much has happened. Weird.
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no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 07:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 07:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 08:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 08:31 am (UTC)It is beyond my understanding why the people who do such things don't get that such actions are counterproductive to communication and understanding. But perhaps their purpose is simply to instill fear and hatred in the hearts of the people left alive.
I bet there are a lot of Muslims who are groaning at the stupidity of the perpetrators.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 08:58 am (UTC)But yes, it does make me worry about the country's Muslems. They face enough prejudice as it is, and this is not going to make it better.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 10:18 am (UTC)So I think right now is check-in time, make sure everyone's okay. But then it's "goddamn we have to rebuild the underground" time. And "Well, at least it wasn't the IRA" time.
You're right. I'm more worried for British Muslims.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 10:37 am (UTC)I know. Just one of the many things we love about the British.
Did I read your post correctly? Are you originally from England?
Muslims all over the world will continue to suffer because of the actions of these few.
Sometimes enlightenment seems a very distant hope.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 10:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 11:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 11:24 am (UTC)So yeah, great load off of my mind.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 02:50 pm (UTC)Indeed we don't. We make tea. The plumbers were here today, they had the news on the radio, we agreed it was terrible, and I made them tea. Nothing else one can do, really.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 04:05 pm (UTC)It would be nice if there were simple answers, but there are not. A lot of Americans have a really hard time accepting that.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-13 04:27 am (UTC)wow
Date: 2005-07-07 01:30 pm (UTC)I haven't thought about it enough to tell weather i feel invading countries or anoyynce is the better answer, but i can definatly see how the responce of, "aw man, now how am i gonna get to work on time" could realy take the wind outa a terrorist sails.
Re: wow
Date: 2005-07-07 01:44 pm (UTC)Sorry about the cynicism. I caught a bad case of it back in the sixties, and never really recovered.
Re: wow
Date: 2005-07-07 06:49 pm (UTC)wow, that all would sound so much more intellegent if i merely could spell.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 02:21 pm (UTC)One of the problems now is that nobody knows to which First Aid unit all the casualties went. Lots of people can't get any word their friends and (in my case) family. And yet even I'm acting calm. Can't really explain it - the reaction's weird, and yet in some ways there's nothing seems weird about it.
All part of the quintessential stiff upper-lip, I guess.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 04:02 pm (UTC)An admirable trait.
You are right there? I hope you get word about your family and friends soon, and that all is well.
:::sending hugs and prayers:::
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 11:40 pm (UTC)And he's heading back off the work today on the Underground, along with most of the working population. Despite the loss of life, it's almost like nothing much has happened. Weird.
I'm going to make a nice cup of tea.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 11:45 pm (UTC)xoxo