<p>I fully realize that the UK and certainly London is not homogenous- and hasn’t been for many many years maybe in the 17th century?
I was merely trying to undrestand why in the US we are calling for extra security in our own transportation systems and posting mulitiple blogs about todays tragedies while we seem to benumbed by violence in other parts of the world.
Some explain it away as we think of the MIddle East as a war zone and London isn’t. I don’t know- what the reason is, but I think it is good to think about it.</p>
<p>quitejaded did your auntie blame it on the French?</p>
<p>( note this is a joke- the britshers that I know in jest blame everything or at least a lot on the French and since London “stole” the Olympics from Paris- there have been some comments)</p>
<p>emeraldkity4 - I think I can explain our apparent greater consern about the terrorism in London versus say the violence in Venezuela or Zimbabwe (by the way does the violence in those countries excite your concern to the same degree as the violence perpetrated by Israel? - I don’t think you really need to answer that). Robert Mugabe murdering thug that he is will never do urban renewal in Connecticut. And Hugo Chavez will never organize elections in New York. The same holds true for most of the thugs of the world. They pose a direct threat to us. Islamic fundamentalism on the other hand…</p>
<p>It may be crass but when someones house in Indonesia is washed away in mudslide I am sympathetic but when my next door neighbors house is washed away I am highly concerned.</p>
<p>BTW on the racist angle - I don’t think most Americans are even aware that literally hundreds of European tourists were killed by that wave. Americans have always been very generous when natural disasters strike even in hostile regimes. Recall the response to the earthquakes in Iran. As for the problems in Africa sometimes they are quite literally beyond fixing. Recall Somalia.</p>
<p>From a blog site (courtesy of Slate Magazine):</p>
<p>*Oh, tears came to my eyes when I turned on the television this morning. All my memories of September 11 came flooding back. I love London so much, and am so sorry that these dirtbags have attacked you.</p>
<p>Many thanks for the kind words and to those who have emailed offering condolences and prayers. I have a prediction to make, that tomorrow well find out whether Britons are, still, in fact, Britons. Many years ago I was working in The City and there were two events that made travel into work almost impossible.</p>
<p>The first was a series of storms that brought down power lines, blocked train routes and so on. Not surprisingly, the place was empty the next day. Why bother to struggle through?</p>
<p>The other event was an IRA bomb which caused massive damage and loss of life. Trains were disrupted, travel to work the next day was horribly difficult and yet there were more people at work than on a normal day. There was no co-ordination to this, no instructions went out, but it appeared that people were crawling off their sick beds in order to be there at work the next day, thrusting their mewling and pewling infants into the arms of anyone at all so that they could be there.</p>
<p>Yes, well take an excuse for a day off, throw a sickie. But you threaten us, try to kill us? Kill and injure some of us?</p>
<p>F*** you, sunshine.</p>
<p>Well not be having that. </p>
<p>No grand demonstrations, few warlike chants, a desire for revenge, of course, but the reaction of the average man and woman in the street? Yes, youve tried it, now bugger off. Were not scared, no, you wont change us. Even if we are scared, you can still bugger off.*</p>
<p>I’ve found a route to get into work, the route I usually use is now a crime scene.</p>
<p>Everyone is being asked to be patient with their journeys this morning, severe delays are occuring.</p>
<p>I’ll be leaving a hour early just to make sure I get in.</p>
<p>I’m very frustrated with Germany. They have been remarkably silent. Yesterday, as the message board for foreigners in Germany was going crazy, everyone was frustrated because the German news sources seemed to be ignoring it. When they finally did say something, it seems to be based upon economic concerns. In Germany, everything is always about them, and always about money. (I’ve had a couple bad days and am terribly homesick. Perhaps I won’t feel this way later.)</p>
<p>stiff upper lip what?
Brits are certainly resilent- not to make light of the tragic deaths and injuries but the blogs I have been reading have been full of national pride in their ability to carry on and thrive.
Same 
Well done, terrorists, you turned one of the most indifferent cities on earth into a hotbed of patriotism.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>*When the news reporter said “Shopkeepers are opening their doors bringing out blankets and cups of tea” I just smiled. It’s like yes. That’s Britain for you. Tea solves everything.
You’re a bit cold?
Tea.
Your boyfriend has just left you?
Tea.
You’ve just been told you’ve got cancer?
Tea.
Coordinated terrorist attack on the transport network bringing the city to a grinding halt?
TEA DAMMIT!</p>
<h2>And if it’s really serious, they may bring out the coffee. The Americans have their alert raised to red, we break out the coffee. That’s for situations more serious than this of course. Like another England penalty shoot-out [in soccer].*</h2>
<p><a href=“http://www.livejournal.com/users/tyrell/154027.html[/url]”>Error;
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<p>Beautifully said.</p>
<p>London was as back to normal as it could have been today.</p>
<p>Tubes were packed as usual with everyone detirmined to make the journey into work, whilst still remembering those that lost their life.</p>
<p>Security was noticably stepped up, many more police at Liverpool Street Station with sniffer dogs. I can see Aldgate Station from the building I work in, police on horseback were patrolling outside.</p>
<p>On my floor at work, every single person came in for work even someone who had been off for the last 2 weeks with a slipped disc in his back dragged himself him.</p>
<p>Natoar:</p>
<p>The Brits at their best. Makes me feel nostalgic for the years we lived in London!</p>
<p>I love London too. And I’d have made it a point to go back to work the next day if I lived there.</p>
<p>In fact, all my friends from my previous place of work at Canary Wharf were there yesterday (they all come in at 8:30) and somehow left in the evening. And are back at work today.</p>
<p>Even though I’ve personally never been to London, that is one place that I’d really like to visit in the future. It hurts knowing that the very people that always stood beside the U.S. during our struggles over the past few years are now hurting. No one deserves to be terrorized - especially not the British. I wish there was some way that everyone could help them.</p>
<p>Difference between the Vietnam era terrorism and today’s Urban Terrorism?</p>
<p>VN: Trees blow up-response -Agent Orange.
Today: Cars blow up-response -Scape metal all vehicles to China. At least the metal is worth 20cents a pound.</p>
<p>I agree reeses414. </p>
<p>I was in DC yesterday at the mall–there were police and security everywhere. It was at least triple the presence on Memorial Day weekend for Rolling Thunder. Every building we visited had different security protocols. Most amusing, the guards at the Botanical Gardens and Conservatory inspecting the contents of water bottles. Looking for a floricidal poisoner, maybe? :)</p>
<p>It was memorial day here in London to remember the WWII heros and victims.</p>
<p>Veterens of the war were coming to London from all over the country.</p>
<p>2 Veterens were travelling into London on the 7th July. When they heard the underground had been suspended. So they started making there way back home. When they heard the underground had been suspended because of a terrorist attack they promptly turned around and walked all the way to the memorial.</p>
<p>An article I read in a newspaper today.</p>
<p>The British are not easily cowed but the short term and long term effect of this attack will be different. Tony Blair is toast. It is now the USA versus Islamofacism.</p>
<p>Tony Blair has only just been re-elected, he will only go if he resigns. I think this is Blair’s last term in office anyway, I don’t think he can be relected again.</p>
<p>Oh jeez. Tony Blair isn’t going to be blamed for this attack, is he? He did nothing wrong and is actually doing many things right. (He is a politician that I actually like. In my case, that hardly ever happens becasue good politicians are hard to come by these days.) </p>
<p>However, I sadly agree with Natoar23, and I’m not even from England. I highly doubt that he will get elected again. Three terms is a long time in office for anyone. A fourth term would be remarkable in my opinion.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.werenotafraid.com%5B/url%5D”>www.werenotafraid.com</a></p>
<p>Set up after the attacks, the website is having so many visitors that you may not be able to view it straight away</p>
<p>Blair had already said, before the election, that this would be his last term. I don’t believe the Brits have any legal prohibition against a fourth term, it’s more like it’s Not Done. As it is, Blair and his probably successor, Gordon Brown, have had some intramural jostling over just when Brown will get to succeed him. Blair is likely not stay in office for his full five-year term and Brown is all but certain to lead Labor in the next election.</p>