I spent most of today at work hoping that someone from Sanctus1 would blog or post to the list about the bombs in London but no-one has, and I suppose that could be because no-one knows what to say. I'm going to try to say something but it's difficult to know what.
I feel relieved that no-one I know was hurt, as far as I know. But it's really frightening. Matt (my husband) has gone out to work tonight as a paramedic and I think, what if there's a bomb in Manchester and he gets killed? Is this a one-off response to the G8 or is it the start of a serious terrorism campaign? Today made everyone in my office remember where they were when the bomb went off at the Arndale centre and who they knew who had a lucky escape.
On Radio 4, they talked to some muslims who remembered how they were treated with suspicion after the attacks on the world trade centre and who are frightened of returning to that climate of suspicion. I also wonder what effect this will have on our civil liberties. Is this the price to pay for a free and open society?
For the past couple of years they've said an attack on London was inevitable and no-one really belived them - either naievety or a sense of cynicism at the scaremongering that does go on. And now it's happened and it feels like the world has changed somewhat.
And I remember this morning coming into work with my paper and talking about the olympic bid and mocking slightly the overwhelming joy, and then at lunchtime reading my paper which celebrated that while listening to the reports on the radio about the terror and death in the same city.
So I don't really have anything to say, but I feel better for saying it.
4 comments:
This has been a week of contrasts, in which we wonder if we humans can really be that awful. In the words of one person...
"On the one hand you've got people here who are working to alleviate poverty and to help rid the world of the pandemic of Aids. They're working on ways to have a clean environment.
"And on the other hand you have people killing innocent people.
"The contrast couldn't be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty, and those who kill."
I'd never thought I'd post a quote by George W Bush to the Sanctus1 blog, but for once he's right.
Yes, but what he said made me want to punch him. Talking about killing innocent people... innocent Iraquis? Human rights - the death penalty? The right to medical care? Working on ways to have a clean environment? You're joking, aren't you?
And then he went on to talk about his sympathy for the british people... and how he's ordered people at home to be extra vigilant etc etc etc. While I think they do need to be more vigilant in the US, he seemed to spend a lot more time talking about looking after the people at home than sympathising with us.
One of my friends was telling me that a friend of theirs was on a bus last night and the driver wouldn't let an arabic-looking guy on.
Also this morning, I saw three police cars and a police van heading down Oxford Road, and could hear another set of sirens in the distance. I felt frightened.
Firstly, sorry for not blogging yesterday - you're right Sarah, I didn't know what to write and I was also glued to the 5Live for info. I think Jonny and some others posted though on their sites.
I agree with both of you if that is possible... I also saw police on the tram in town this morning, which gave me a jolt. But it made me feel that I have to keep on going, we all have to go on, in memory of those people who died and were injured. And in recognition that we're all just human, and therefore scared and fragile and angry and hopeful...
For what it's worth LICC posted this prayer this morning instead of their usual Friday cultural comment:
God of all,
So much has happened this week that it's hard to take it all in. Our hearts have leaped for joy and ached with pain. Amid the turmoil, help us to know your peace - which surpasses all understanding.
Thank you for Bob Geldof, and for Live 8. Please don't let the passion and creativity of such a beautiful event be lost, but let its chords of hope continue to reverberate throughout the world.
Thank you for the 220,000 souls who took part in the biggest peaceful demonstration ever seen before a G8 summit. We pray that their presence on Saturday in Edinburgh will help to persuade the leaders of the G8 that we all want to Make Poverty History.
Thank you, too, for the privilege this country has in leading the G8 at this time, and for the conviction of the Prime Minister and Chancellor to put climate change and poverty at the top of the agenda. We pray that all the planning, diplomacy and effort will not go to waste, despite the events in London. May good, yet, come out of evil.
Thank you for the joy and surprise of London's Olympic victory. So much effort, again, which has the potential to change so many lives, especially in the east end. Thank you for the power of sport - to unite, to uplift, and simply to help us smile through harder times. It's a gift from you.
And thank you that you do not leave us when the world seems to come crashing down around us. We pray, within the sadness, confusion and horror of yesterday's bombings, that your spirit will comfort those who mourn, heal those who are hurt, and strengthen those who feel weak.
Help us, somehow, to love our enemies, and in so doing, to bring heaven a little closer to our broken earth.
And as Bono, who has helped to challenge and encourage the G8 this week, sang in London recently:
Take this city -
A city should be shining on a hill.
Take this city,
If it be your will.
What no man can own, no man can take.
Take this heart -
London's heart -
Take this city, and keep it safe.
Amen.
www.licc.org.uk/culture
Sorry for my anti-Bush rant. He does make me angry and I think what he said was hypocritical. But he was right.
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