omg...

[dwgm]

Opened the flist to one post after another about London. Feels like 9/11 all over again. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you over there.

Unbelievable.

Comments

[nativeprincess.livejournal.com]

hu? what happened?

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

A series of bombings in London, just a little while ago.

[galadhir.livejournal.com]

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.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I know you English have had more than your share.

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.

[galadhir.livejournal.com]

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.

[xzombiexkittenx.livejournal.com]

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.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Someone said, "We're British. We don't do panic."

I know. Just one of the many things we love about the British.

Did I read your post correctly? Are you originally from England?

I'm more worried for British Muslims.

Muslims all over the world will continue to suffer because of the actions of these few.

Sometimes enlightenment seems a very distant hope.

[xzombiexkittenx.livejournal.com]

Actually I'm Canadian, but I've lived in England for 11 out of 19 (the first 5 and these latter five) years, so it's pretty much my home.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. It would be. I hope your friends and family over there are safe.

[xzombiexkittenx.livejournal.com]

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.

So yeah, great load off of my mind.

wow

[nativeprincess.livejournal.com]

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.

Re: wow

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

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.

[kaellana.livejournal.com]

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.

[shyaway.livejournal.com]

We're British. We don't do panic.

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.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

All part of the quintessential stiff upper-lip, I guess.

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:::

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Exactly, right.

It would be nice if there were simple answers, but there are not. A lot of Americans have a really hard time accepting that.

Re: wow

[nativeprincess.livejournal.com]

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.

[kaellana.livejournal.com]

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.

I'm going to make a nice cup of tea.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for letting me know. I am so happy he's OK. I was thinking about you all evening. Yes, do go have a cup of tea.

xoxo

[shyaway.livejournal.com]

The bombers are thought to have been British. We can't go in and topple our own government.