Thursday 7 July, 2005
A dreadful day for London
Shock and sadness on waking this morning at the four bomb blasts in London. Seeing the pictures of the bus in Tavistock Square, it seems remarkable that it only caused two fatalities. Thoughts out to all those who have been affected.
As the G8 summit continues, The Girl in the Café aired this evening, a very recently made Richard Curtis film based on the G8 summit currently underway, and the plight of Geldof and co. with respect to Africa. The film is quite beautiful, and focuses on the awkward, believable relationship between a civil servant and a quiet, yet outspoken younger woman. Although the political undertones are somewhat overdone, the film is certainly worth the time.
The London bombings are still dominating every news report here. In this case (and other cases, particularly 9/11, but also IRA bombings etc.) words become so woefully inadequate as to become completely redundant. Prime ministers, presidents and other world leaders deliver heartfelt and genuine immediate speeches where they reel out the usual descriptive canon "barbaric, sickening, cowardly, indiscriminate etc." but there simply aren't powerful enough adjectives to come close to conveying the collective opinion of what's actually happened.
I'm not stupid enough to adopt a "we're the good guys, they're the bad guys" viewpoint because I know western governments have done some pretty abominable things, but I have immense difficulty even beginning to understand the mentality of someone who can plant a bomb on a Tube. I just don't get it. I don't care who your God is.
I'm pretty much in agreement, Steve. The speeches by the various religious and political leaders are necessary, but can't come close to portraying public opinion.
With regard to the Tube bombings themselves, my view is that they are in retaliation for our efforts in Iraq, and until Western leaders think more strategically about their strategy there, there will be an ongoing risk of successive attacks.
G8 didn't make poverty history, so next year I'll be wearing a band that says "make corruption history"
