winterbadger: (UK)
[personal profile] winterbadger
http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1523653,00.html

"...the main stories of London on July 7 2005, are not merely of individual tragedy, but also of individual heroism and bloody-minded determination. "

"Less than 24 hours before the bombs went off, London won a golden accolade from the rest of the world because it offered them an Olympic Games based on hope and inclusiveness towards all races, creeds and nations. As Ken Livingstone said yesterday, these bombs were a direct assault on that noble and admirable vision. This was not an attack on the rulers or the powerful. It was, as the mayor and the city's faith leaders all said in their different ways, an attack on ordinary Londoners, men and women, young and old, black and white, Christian and Muslim, Hindu and Jew who all abhor such violence. The Chief Rabbi surely got it right when he said yesterday that the bombings were the rage of the angry against the defenceless and the innocent. Yet the important thing was that rage was not met with rage. London has won the Olympics because it is an open and tolerant city. The way Londoners responded to the vicious attacks on them has vindicated the Olympians' confidence."

"This is a conflict of values. But it is not just the contrast between the hate of the terrorists and the labours of the world leaders that will turn the tide. It is the contrast between the anger of the terrorists and the decency of ordinary people, as Londoners so powerfully showed yesterday."

Date: 2005-07-08 10:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blueinva.livejournal.com
I used to abhor Ken Livingstone and all his posturing, but his demeanour yesterday, evident joy the day before and bravery in doing what he thinks is right (as with the congestion fee for instance) has changed my opinion of him 180 degrees. I may disagree with a lot of his tenets (although we both love newts) but he really is representative of the man on the London street. *soft smile*

Profile

winterbadger: (Default)
winterbadger

March 2024

S M T W T F S
     12
34567 89
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Feb. 1st, 2026 10:14 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios