Politicalog Comments
May I begin by offering my sincere condolances to all those who lost loved ones or suffered injuries in last weeks attrocities in London. May God be with you in these troubled times.
Allan, I must challenge you on what I believe to be your very dangerous misconception as to the reason for what happened here. I find it interesting that you entitled your piece "Dear Mr Terrorist". You then go on to define the word "futility", rather than either "terrorist" or "terrorism". Such a shame, as few will take the trouble to look them up. I did. Take "terrorism" for example:
1. the unlawful use ... of violence esp. against the state or the public as a politically motivated means of attack or coercion;
2. the calculated use of violence ... against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature.
Allan, do you seriously believe that the ultimate goal of the London bombers was to "strike fear at the hearts of the enemy and paralyse a nation"? Or that our response to these activities should be to simply "mourn our dead and bury them with dignity ... life will go on"? Should you not add "until the next time"? You know as well as I do that there WILL be a next time.
I have lived with terrorism nearly all of my life. I've had my car blown across the road with me in it, and had one uncle blown to bits and another shot by the IRA. Okay, you got me, I'm from Northern Ireland. So where did your philosophy on terrorism get us in this little part of the world? Try this:
1. all terrorist murderers released from prison since Good Friday Agreement;
2. worst offenders get big houses, lots of dosh, jobs, permission to sell memoirs for hundreds of thousands etc;
3. immediate upsurge in violent crime inc. armed robbery, shootings, murder, mutilation (lower jaws / limbs amputated), rape, disappearances etc;
4. no IRA decomissioning - number of active members way in excess of number required at height of Troubles;
5. IRA members running Government Departments, inc. "Second in Command" in charge of education; and
6. police force all but decimated.
And you want us to believe that terrorism is futile?
And why did all this happen? Because the Government took the easy option - "we will not be intimidated, life will go on" they said. And when the pressure got too great, they had NO option but to say "give them what they want".
Not a lot of use Allan. When we get killed, or lose loved ones, that's pretty much the end of the road. For many of us here, as in London, Manchester, New York, wherever, life really isn't worth living any more. So who won? Us?
Don't be afraid to call terrorism what it is, a means to an end. They do what they do for a reason. They come, and they keep on coming. We need less rhetoric, and more action to root these scum out. Don't bury your head in the sand - one of these days it could be too late for us all ...
Mike,
Your own experience is obviously horrific and I see that I have touched a nerve. I am truly sorry for your losses. I had hoped not to appear flippant and if you picked it up that way, I apologise.
I am angry that these attacks have happened and expect the terrorists responsible to pay. I am not afraid to call terrorism what it is and I am certainly not burying my head in the sand.
My intention was to stick two fingers up at the scumbags and show them that no matter how hard they try, they will never reach their goal. I was not trying to find a reason for what happened. Many terrorists have come and gone in my lifetime. The reasons are always different. The results are always the same.
I did not say that "Life will go on" should be our "response". That "life goes on" is just a fact. Our response should be to root out these bastards and make them pay. That is up to the powers that be and I trust that in that respect they will do their job properly and efficiently. I was merely echoing the general feeling of defiance that I have picked up on. A feeling that was also prevalent during the IRA mainland bombing campaigns of the 80's.
Of course there will be a next time and time time after that, ad infinitum. I don't doubt that for a second. However, I refuse to live my life in fear.
As far as the Good Friday agreement goes, I completely agree with you. I find it disgusting that our Government is letting convicted terrorists out of jail. For all their talk of not pandering to terrorism, they are doing just that. It was our Government giving in in this way ("give them what they want") and not my philosophy that led us to the situation you describe.
I really do hope you find peace and that life is worth living.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Cheers
Allan
You might usefully look at London Bomb postings at
www.postmanpatel.blogspot.com
www.williambowles.info
The bombings weren't *totally* futile though: they did succeed in killing themselves. This seems to be a thoroughly excellent thing for them to do, and I would strongly encourage them to continue - with the obvious proviso that in future they should avoid taking out any innocent bystanders at the same time.
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