Well, if ever I timed a day off well, it was Thursday. Thank god for flexible working hours.
The timing and positions of the London bombs mean that I easily could have been involved, which is something I'm trying not to think about.
I'm not going to write about how angry I feel. I think there have been some excellent speeches from people who know a lot more than me. Ken Livingstone was spot-on when he said that this wasn't an attack on presidents and prime ministers but on ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds. I admire DAC Paddick from the Met when answering the question "are these Muslim terrorists?" by saying that there is no such thing. Islam is a peaceful religion and the people who committed this are simply murderers. Good answer - so any Islamaphobes can fuck off.
I'm not sure if Londoners really are better at handling crises but I'm glad we're carrying on as normal. And we've still got the Olympics and it's going to be FAB.
10 comments:
Totally agree Megan. I liked Ken's speech too and there have been Muslims calling into the radio (I listen to 97.3 LBC)all morning declaring their abhorrence of the attacks and feeling ashamed that people are able to twist Islam in this way. I think this could be a golden opportunity though to do a few simple acts that would reverse the trend in associating Islam with violence. Someone on the radio suggested a Muslim led march against terrorism that the whole of London could join in with and I think that would be great. And I think with all those different coloured wristbands out there at the moment we could have an anti violence/anti terrorism one that people of all faiths or no faith could wear. More importantly the Media also needs to stop exacerbating the situation by constantly associating the word 'terrorist' with 'Muslim'.
The thing I worried about at the moment though is this increasing talk about the linking of the bombing with our involvement in Iraq. I'm sure that's got something to do with it, but is it the sole reason? What about the Bali bombing?
Also the 9/11 attack started before we invaded Iraq (well on this occasion anyway).
Oh bugger. I'm going to have to start doing some 7am-7pm shifts because of emergency cover due to the bombs. Could be worse - my friends are having to work night shifts at the mortuary. Seriously.
Oh god, how awful. It's times like this when i wish i didn't know so much about forensics etc and what sort of state people's bodies will be in when your friends see them. I also wish i didn't know so much about explosives. Do you have any idea how much worse it would have been if more of the carriages had been sealed in tighter tunnels? The carriages coulds have turned into giant pipe bombs. i could be looking out of the office window at a big hole in the ground. Or be in one.
For the two minute silence I went outside with everyone else but i chose to wear a headscarf which i don't normally do- to demonstrate that all kinds of people are muslims not just the type villified in the press. There were a lot of surprised faces when i got into the crowded lift - ive never downplayed or made a big deal out of my religion but anyone who is a close acquaintance of mine knows it's a part of me. Colleagues don't. I feel shaken- like i've committed some act of defiance- by going downstairs with a scarf on my head-and seeing the surprised faces, i definitely felt apart from the group as opposed to part of the group. I don't feel shaken by their reaction but by how I felt- wearing my scarf amongst non muslims- I suddenly appreciated what courage it takes to wear obvious religion based clothing or symbols.
Good on you, Leafy. I think your point about there being all kinds of muslims is an important point to be made.
Although I dare you to come to work dressed as a nun tomorrow. That'll confuse them.
i think it's good you did that. a lady who works in my office said when she went to New York quite a while after 9/11 she felt so intimdated by peoples attitudes that she didn't feel safe wearing her headscarf there. It's best muslims here stand up with confidence now and say "this is me, and i'm a good person" so that we never get that atmosphere here. My and my army will be right there to back you up!
Yes, I have confidence in this city - I am proud of London and it's diversity of people and I am convinced that we won't let this intimidation happen here. There has already been backlash I know and I guess it is inevitable there will be more to come but I am hopeful that the situation will genereally improve and not get worse. I think there is a strong will not to let this happen. I wished I could've been in Trafalgar Square this evening with the crowds of people from all faiths and no faiths, united in condemning the bombings, it must've been amazing. Did they do anything like that in New York after 9/11?
Kat, the Bali bomb was basically aimed at Australians, presumably because of their involvement in Iraq.
Or was that before we invaded? Darn, can't remember. Point maybe totally invalid.
Smulford speak truth. I think it's time we started to put more emphasis on personal beliefs rather than definitions of religous groups. I know it's what worries religious fundamentalists of every species most- the idea that people can 'pick and mix' religious beliefs rather than beileving what they're told to. But if we want a better world we have to put responsiblity squarely on the shoulders of every individual to be as responsible and good for society a person as possible, and in return ensure respect for whatever the belief system guides them in that end. I think if each person felt their beliefs were considered as valid and important as everyone else's, more people might vote too.
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