Terror attacks: Snapshot of the wreckage from a series of bomb blasts targeting London buses and underground stations yesterday that killed 50 (and counting) and injured over 700 innocent people….An obscure group purportedly affiliated with al Qaeda claimed responsibility.
The emotions of Londoners are in a complete flux today as they try to reconcile the best of times and the worst of times that overcame them this week in such dramatic and tragic fashion. After all, they went to bed on Wednesday still rejoicing over their winning bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, only to awake on Thursday to the living nightmare of coordinated terror attacks that punctured their pride and joy with fear and sorrow.
Whether designed to undermine G8 efforts to alleviate poverty in Africa or to inflict indiscriminate casualties to assuage their discontent about British involvement in Iraq, there seems little point in dwelling on the reasons why London was targeted. What must be noted and accepted, however, is that no matter their collective resolve, there is absolutely nothing our governments can do to prevent such attacks. Indeed, many Americans have become so resigned to this fact that they reacted yesterday as if those explosions had occurred here in Washington or New York. Not this time; although, there but for the grace of God….
Nevertheless, that we are so vulnerable is no cause for fear. Because our strength lies in our solidarity with all who share our democratic values and in our determination that we shall never surrender our liberties or our way of life under the threat of cowardly attacks by fanatical Islamic terrorists!
But to our friends in London:
We offer our heartfelt condolences for your loss. Your courage and unshakeable spirit are very much on display. And, with heads bloodied but unbowed, your resolve to neither wince nor cry aloud provides a reassuring and hopeful example for the rest of us to follow when we inevitably become the targets of similar attacks….
G8 Leaders: Standing all for one and one for all as British PM Tony Blair vowed to press on with their humanitarian agenda despite the inhumane carnage that was inflicted on the British people by terrorists.
News and Politics
Anonymous says
you have captured my conflicted emotions about this tragedy so precisely it is really quite remarkable. and many thanks for that eloquent expression of sympathy. it means a lot to us. cheers.
Anonymous says
I agree. I just hope Blair does not blow the unversal goodwill towards the Brits the way Bush blew it for the Americans so soon after 9/11.
Anonymous says
You reap what you sow! Chickens are coming home to roost! Get used to it!
Anonymous says
This is really tragic. As I recall the British organised the largest anti-Iraq war protest. Futhermore, from the results of the elections in the UK only a couple of months ago it was clear that even voters who traditionally support Labour, voted against Labour in protest of the Iraq war. Many were and are still calling for Blair to resign.
It is unfortunate that in blaming “fanatical Islamic terrorists” ipinions seems to paint all Muslims with the same brush. (I do hope this was not the intention. If so, could ipinions please correct this).
On the other hand, I was very pleased that Mr. Blair, notwithstanding his pain and anger, was very emphatic that there are only a few such “fanatical Islamic terrorists”; whilst the overwhelming majority of Muslims are as pained and angered by such indiscriminate acts of terror. This was demonstrated by the numerous messages of support for the British people and the condemnation of this act by Islamic clerics and mosques, and even Islamic countries! (It was also patently clear from the BBC footage that there were Muslims too on the trains and bus.)
…perhaps Americans should read more….
Anonymous says
CORRECTION … perhaps Americans should read more…and President Vicente Fox too…
Anonymous says
I don’t see where ipinions painted “all Muslims with the same brush”. He was right. It was confirmed yesterday that the cowardly homicide bombers were “fanatical Islamic terrorists”. This does not mean that all Muslims are terrorist any more than the fact that the fanatical Islamic terrorists who perpetrated the 9/11 attacts were mostly from Saudi Arabia means that all Saudi are fanatical Islamic terrorists. It does not foster understanding of the root causes of this kind of terrorism if people refuse to even identify the perpetrators for who and what they are. Sorry ipinions. I know you could have done a far better job of defending your column. But I’m an avid reader and could not resist coming to your defense.