Bloodied but unbowed
It's still not clear who placed the bombs which have so far killed as many as thirty-three people, wounded over seven hundred and disrupted the whole of the London underground tube train network, but it the end, I'm not sure it matters.
These acts of mindless, hateful cowardice will not find themselves on any of the many epitaphs to those who have paid the ultimate price, nor will we remember these acts in years to come when we talk about how the various people of London reacted with typical British stoicism and reserve and came away bloodied but unbowed.
The thought of defeating the British people in such a way is laughable.
We've survived successive wave after wave of assaulting armies from ancient times, all the way from the Roman Empire to the aspiring German Empire, and all have been repelled in time and their efforts have come to nought.
However, this war is not new, those that wage war on Britain have chosen poorly their enemies, when they struck in New York, America.
There we saw devastation on an unreal scale, comparable to that of some special effect from a James Bond film, such was the resonating shock as an incredulous world looked on, a witness to those acts.
And there also, the terrorists achieved nothing from the list of their aims and instead only served to foster comradeship, closeness and a renewed sense of identity among the citizens of the city.
Yesterday was a remarkable moment for many reasons, the day began with the continued celebration of winning the Olympics for 2012, then there was the early-risers in Gleneagles, Scotland, where those many world leaders had gathered to preside over decisions that would hopefully change our whole world for the better.
Then there was the sight of the visibly shocked Primeminister, Tony Blair stood flanked by all of the worlds' leaders in a show of unprecedented solidarity against those acts of terrorism.
Yet again, this small archipelago of islands known collectively as Britain must play host to historic, epoch-defining moments where we stand and look at the blood on our hands and on each others' faces and ask: "Is that it? Is that all you've got? Is that really the best you can do?"
Without wanting to antagonize these parasites into further actions, they're going to have to do a lot better / worse than that if they want to win anything.
Even credibility is beyond their meagre grasp, such is their pointlessness.
Thanks to all those that have wished well, but I would ask that you direct your thoughts to those who have suffered, myself not being among them.
I'm guessing this isn't the end of things.
But what I will say is, this will yet again end on our terms, not theirs...
posted by Wayne Smallman at Friday, July 08, 2005
5 Comments:
Very well put, mate.
As I was watching BBC News 24 I was warmed to see, amongst the witness report that were scrolling along the bottom of the screen, messages of thanks from said witnesses to the emergency services for their actions and help. For me that says a lot: only hours after a so-called attack the "victims" are showing tremendous community spirit, thanking those who helped and just carrying on.
As I was typing that previous paragraph an old guy being interviewed on ITV said (and I quote): "I wasn't going to let some terrorist stop me getting on my bus and a lot of other people were obviously thinking the same".
"We've survived successive wave after wave of assaulting armies from ancient times, all the way from the Roman Empire to the aspiring German Empire, and all have been repelled in time and their efforts have come to nought."
Complete bull - jingoistic nonsense - most of the 'assaulting armies' (Celts/Gauls, Romans, Angles/Saxons/Jutes, Vikings, Normans) actually settled, interbred with the indigenous populations and made us (the British) the mixed race mongrols we are. Ok we repelled the Spanish, the French sometimes and the Germans, but mostly our stoicism has involved getting down to it with our occupiers. Many of the British heroes we admire so much (for example Richard the Lionheart, King John etc) were actually French by birth, upbringing and ancestry).
"The thought of defeating the British people in such a way is laughable"
You really don't understand why these terrorists are doing this do you? They're not out to 'defeat' the British - they don't care about invading us or destroying us. And the bluster surrounding these terrible events is just so much grist to their mill. These terrorists want attention, publicity and they want us to know that we have not won against them. These are the acts of people who feel themselves repressed by Britain and the US, by western culture.
I have the utmost compassion for the people who were badly injured and the families of those who lost loved ones. And I admire some of the stoicism of the people who were merely going about their normal daily lives. But bluster and pride about Britishness is misplaced and completely misses the point. Unless we choose to understand why these people do what they're doing and act on it (as we are doing (eventually) in Northern Ireland), then they'll keep on happening, because the people doing those things feel they've nothing to lose.
I'm not getting into an argument on the issue of history.
It's worth noting that the Romans made several attempts at getting a foothold and most failed.
In the end, they brokered trade deals with the local kings & queens.
"You really don't understand why these terrorists are doing this do you? They're not out to 'defeat' the British - they don't care about invading us or destroying us."
Then I have to question your own knowledge.
Rest assured, there's no part of the situation I'm not familiar with.
Have you ever read the manifesto of the al Qaeda? if it is indeed those guys who're behind this.
Among the truly insane demands they make, the most sane is that of wanting Spain 'handed back' to Islamic rule.
Then there's the small issue of them not ending in their battle until there is a crescent moon towering over every capital city in the western world and hard line Islamic rule is imposed.
"Unless we choose to understand why these people do what they're doing and act on it (as we are doing (eventually) in Northern Ireland), then they'll keep on happening, because the people doing those things feel they've nothing to lose."
And killing innocent people is neither the quickest nor efficient way to get their message across, as well you know.
I think you're being deliberately argumentative for the sake of saying something different to everyone else.
There's a time for that. Sadly, this isn't it...
I know how vulnerable we all felt in the States on and after 9/11. There was also an immense amount of anger. Sad part is that so many other nations have been the target of such terrorist attacks and have not had the ability to effectively do anything about it. It's such a terrible circle because lashing out in retaliation tends to fuel the fire, yet how can we turn a blind eye? I just know that I was sickened when I heard the news. I remember feeling that vulnerable; it wasn't so long ago.
Good grief, man. Where are ya?
Sick?
Busy?
Partying?
Lost?
Dead in a ditch?
Just plain old not much too say? (ha!)*wink*
At least let us know you're alive and kicking.
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