I went out to a meeting this afternoon, taking London buses in both directions. I won't pretend I didn't feel nervous; I did. There were a lot of buses with not many passengers and I sense my nervousness was quite general. Londoners are stoic - they are not without feeling.
Does this mean London has been cowed by the terrorists? No, I don't read it that way. I was thinking of Shakespeare: If you prick us do we not bleed? If you bomb our trains and buses, we will be hurt and we will feel fear. No need to pretend otherwise. Indeed, to the contrary, to feel fear under such viscious attack is the natural human response, it would be unnatural to pretend otherwise. We can leave the grandiose pretence of being above mere humanity to the deluded scum who perpetrated these acts.
On the bus home, at one point a disabled person in a wheelchair was helped aboard by the driver and a passenger. Later, after she alighted, a mother boarded with a three year old on one arm, and with a small baby in a pram. These are among the people who routinely use a London bus. They use it even in the wake of atrocities. We are a soft target, we don't pretend to be anything else. Only the most devious and twisted of imaginations could possibly regard bombing such people as proof of any kind of virtue.
And if you attack such people, we will be hurt and we will be frightened. Because we are in touch with our frail humanity. Please don't confuse the opposite of this, the denial of human vulnerability, with courage. That would be a big mistake.
And as well as fear, we will feel anger. This evening, no words can possibly convey the depth of my contempt for those who attacked London yesterday.
Technorati tags: london, terrorism
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Comments (7)
You're not alone in that city. Wouldn't it be great for someone to convene a gathering of people who lived through the Blitz and get them together with London citizens too young to know that violence, and exchange stories about we cope with fear and loathing and contempt in the face of indiscriminate destruction? That would be a very cool gathering to be a part of.
Draw on the resources you have walking amongst you. Others have felt this before. How did they see through? What IS that unflappable London spirit that quakes and shivers and still gets things done? What can the generations learn from each other?
July 8, 2005 20:48 Permalink for comment
Glad to hear that you are ok Johnnie
What a great City you live in - how wonderful how London pulls together
Fond regards Rob
July 9, 2005 18:23 Permalink for comment
I am a New Yorker and experienced 9/11. It is still amazing how people working in the high rise office buildings on Wall Street are still governed by the fear of that experience. I know there were some psychotherapy services provided to direct victims of 9/11. How about all the rest of us? Weren't we victims also. I wonder still if any of us felt anger. Have we made the time to do that? I think understanding the fear is a good place to start. I am not sure that many of us have understood the anger. As I walk in New York City since this London tragedy I see depression and renewed fear in the shadow of helmeted squad teams that display 'protection'.
July 10, 2005 03:36 Permalink for comment
Elise, what an interesting post. I was there just before 9-11. It’s as though those signs of “homeland security” cause more angst for people, so the financial district will find it hard to return to normal. I agree with you. Down here in New Zealand, the cops are unarmed. You don’t really think about your safety—and that is the true meaning of public safety. You are safe when you are not reminded of being unsafe.
The absence of visible law enforcement, coupled with a feeling of safety, is what we should strive for—otherwise the terrorists know they have rattled us. Even if the police were plain-clothed it would show we are ready to move on, or at least eliminate one sign that we are still in fear. Then the recovery can begin.
We are not immune down here, however: our last (state-sponsored) terrorist attack was 20 years ago today, so we are very blessed that we have not had a repeat.
July 10, 2005 10:16 Permalink for comment
Whatever happens, please don’t call this event ‘7-7’. My reasons are here: www.beyond-branding.com/blog/2005/07/dont-call-it-7-7-please.html.
July 11, 2005 08:16 Permalink for comment
Courage
It brings hope
courage has strength
it brings faith
courage conquers hate
it brings joy
courage is will.
Ayaan Malik
You are indeed a courageous community.
My best wishes,
Tom
July 11, 2005 15:57 Permalink for comment
by a sheer coincidence I had similiar thougts and posted my shot on flickr today to reflect them(on a bigger time frame though)
October 27, 2005 01:35 Permalink for comment