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RE: Safety

Author: graham
Date: 2001-09-13 11:54

I work in central London. We have lived with the terrorist activities of the IRA for many years. In 1993 they bombed our then tallest tower. It did not fall down, and there was nothing like the loss of life as occured this week in New York, but the building was out of action for a long while. That was just one of several bombs, including ones on busses etc. which had the potential of striking at several innocent people and killing or maiming them. Even though there is supposed to be a ceasefire, it was only a few weeks ago that a bomb went off in west London, and we are having to brace ourselves for some more of this disgusting activity. The security measures are so pervasive that we have become used to them as though they seemed normal.

As said above, this does not compare with what happened this week, but on the other hand it has been going on for a very long time indeed.

I cannot stress too much that it is vital for everyone to carry on their lives as normal. You have the individual right to look after your own safety, but if people generally followed your suggestion then the terrorists will have won their battle immediately. Terrorism cannot be blitzed. It must always be made clear that it does not work in breaking the spirit of the ordinary man in the street. That will defeat terrorism. The other things that do help are serious levels of security action, with everyone cheerfully accepting the need for it, and targeted strikes against terrorist enclaves, but only once the fullest consequences have been thought through. But these cannot prevail if the population so terrorised runs scared. My advice is to go to New York if you would have done. You will very likely survive the experience, and if not, are about as likely to die crossing the street or in a fire on the underground rail system, as by a strike from terrorists.

graham

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