London explosion

[English Lady]

I'm glad you've had contact from loved ones -I imagine many folks have had sleepless nights as they await news.

 

[Black Tulip]

...
Stop the free west from economically invading the peace loving peoples of non-democratic countries.

If you don't like their idea of government don't trade with them.

If you really want to help the people of other nations by giving them MacDonalds outlets, keep all the profits from that country in that country.

Don't allow international arms dealers to be private enterprises.

Stop going on television and emphatically stating that our god is better than theirs
...

This is too radical for words.

 

[moonlight elf]

I'm glad you've had contact from loved ones -I imagine many folks have had sleepless nights as they await news.

 

[NoJo]

For a number of reasons, the bombs in London yesterday will be counterproductive to the "cause" of the perpretators (assuming that this was realted to the Iraq invasion).

(But in Madrid, a similar attack did achieve its aim; Spain very rapidly removed its troops from Iraq).

There's been a strong message over the last years from the government to the British people that the Al Qaida affiliated movements are unrelated to Islam, and it's very unlikely that the attack will divide the British communiities. London, like New York, has a very strong identity, and this identity will be strengthened.

I'm pretty sure the fatality numbers will go up significantly once the tunnel under King's Cross station has been cleared. But these attacks were nothing like as crippling to Central London as 9/11 was to Manhattan.

Londoners are used to a poor transport system; in Winter a light snowfall can bring the town to gridlock.

We're also used to attacks from the IRA - 30 years ago a similar multiple bomb attack took place. That's why there are so few litter bins in the center of town.

A major fire in Kings Cross a few years ago led to a big overhaul of the underground, and in spite of the millions of black mice that have made their home in the tunnels, the Underground is relatively clean and safe. The bombs threw safety relays all across the Underground, and within half an hour, they were able to resume service had they desired -- but of course they needed to keep the system out of service until the rescue and security checks are complete.

There was an extraordinarily well executed rescue operation yesterday, which has left people, even cynics like me, in awe and admiration of the police and emergency hospital staff.

The one thing that was not so well done was the dissemination of emergency phone numbers, to deal with the large number of worried frinds and relatives. In Tel Aviv, where bus bombs are relatively freqent, phone numbers appear on the TV and radio within minutes, and identification of casualties and bodies takes place very quickly.

I strongly oppose many of the G8's policies; which is why I feel so enraged by those terrorists, who, besides killing innocent people, have completely undermined the efforts of people seeking to influence the G8 summit.

 

[joeys-game]

still numb,,family over there, heard nothing
suppose no news is good news
j

 

[English Lady]

still numb,,family over there, heard nothing
suppose no news is good news
j

*hugs* there's an emergency helpline now, if you want to check up on folks,you'll have to work out the internatinal dialing code if you're not in the UK, but here it is...

0870 1566 344

 

[joeys-game]

*hugs* there's an emergency helpline now, if you want to check up on folks,you'll have to work out the internatinal dialing code if you're not in the UK, but here it is...

0870 1566 344

thankyou and thanks for the hug

 

[English Lady]

No problem, have another *hugs* I hope you get news soon! I'll keep you and yours especially in my prayers.

 

[Kassiana]

I'd like to hear what the octopus has to say as well. Who else can I share cake or death with?

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

My heart to all those in England at this time and I'm glad all of you are okay.

And to Al-Queda. Fuck you. To the right-wingers of all countries who have nothing better to do than bomb people to Hell for their god and "moral causes." Fuck you. Fuck you all to the Hells you fear, you deserve no better.

Maybe now we can stop the bullshit and actually track down and try these mother fuckers instead of pissing off more Muslims into their arms.

 

[sandmartin]

Most of my friends on Lit know I live in the UK, a few know I'm Welsh and therefore unlikely to be caught up in the situation in London, but thank you to those who sent me emails to enquire after me - it was very thoughtful of you and deeply appreciated.

But then that got me thinking, I came here to Lit’s site, just to check! 9/11 big display, an actor or singer of some note dies - big display! London gets bombed, nothing! How many UK members are there on Lit? What's going on? A mild rant, perhaps - but surely a valid observation nonetheless!

 

[BlackShanglan]

A major fire in Kings Cross a few years ago led to a big overhaul of the underground, and in spite of the millions of black mice that have made their home in the tunnels, the Underground is relatively clean and safe. The bombs threw safety relays all across the Underground, and within half an hour, they were able to resume service had they desired -- but of course they needed to keep the system out of service until the rescue and security checks are complete.

There was an extraordinarily well executed rescue operation yesterday, which has left people, even cynics like me, in awe and admiration of the police and emergency hospital staff.

I was deeply impressed as well. The planning and care that had gone into emergency preparation really showed. I know that the responding services had done drills, and they had actually done a drill on how to respond to multiple bombings on the underground. The speed and coordination with which they responded were remarkable.

There was some extra help as well. The bomb in Tavistock Square went off across the street from the headquarters of the British Medical Association. I read the account of one doctor who arrived ten minutes after the explosion and helped his colleagues to triage the wounded in the building's courtyard. It's moments like that when you see the goodness in humans beings, sometimes in the midst of seeing their worst as well.

Shanglan

 

[BlackShanglan]

Most of my friends on Lit know I live in the UK, a few know I'm Welsh and therefore unlikely to be caught up in the situation in London, but thank you to those who sent me emails to enquire after me - it was very thoughtful of you and deeply appreciated.

But then that got me thinking, I came here to Lit’s site, just to check! 9/11 big display, an actor or singer of some note dies - big display! London gets bombed, nothing! How many UK members are there on Lit? What's going on? A mild rant, perhaps - but surely a valid observation nonetheless!

I can only speak for myself - but please believe, with all honesty and sincerity, it's the inability of words to aid me at this moment. I love my friends and family in the United Kingdom, and I love the place, the people, and the spirit. I wish there was a damned thing I could do, and I wish I had anything to say that was adequate to the event. You can't imagine how much I want to call every one of my English friends and tell them how I love and adore them, how inexpressably glad I am that they are safe, and how much pain and grief I feel on their behalf.

I'm just not sure how not to offend them. Many of them didn't like the way people in the States reacted to September 11th, and many of them don't like the war in Iraq or my country's policies there. I'm afraid that if I say too much, I will intrude on their grief, anger them with consolations from a country they blame for the problem, or imply that they are as self-indulgent and self-pitying as, unfortunately, some of them see us. I don't mean that combatively; I mean, honestly, that I don't want them to feel that I don't respect their strength and determination.

I don't want to say something painful now. I don't want to do anything that adds even the smallest burden to a terrible shock and sorrow. All I can do is tell them that I'm so glad that they are all right, and that I'm more sorry than I can say that this has happened. I'm not sure I have the right to say more, and I'm not sure that there's any way I can add something without seeming to be trying to make the situation about me or pre-empt the right of people to grieve in something like privacy.

It's like being at my uncle's funeral, when he left behind four children all in high school. I was more sorry than I could possibly express, but what was my grief to theirs? I could not think of anything to say about what pain I felt that did not seem callous and demeaning to the intense and private pain that was theirs. All I could do was respect it, love them, try to be kind, and say as little as possible while trying to do whatever I could to help.

Shanglan

 

[sandmartin]

Shanglan, all that you say is noted and appreciated. This was a cowardly act by cowards, it beggar's belief! I do not accuse anyone of anything, despite the urge to give vent to anger, but a tribute, as often seen on Lit's Homepage, would, I'm sure, be seen as a sign of solidarity and respect among friends.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Shanglan, all that you say is noted and appreciated. This was a cowardly act by cowards, it beggar's belief! I do not accuse anyone of anything, despite the urge to give vent to anger, but a tribute, as often seen on Lit's Homepage, would, I'm sure, be seen as a sign of solidarity and respect among friends.

I agree. Please, though, try to take it as hesitation to offend and not lack of empathy. Even my SO, who is English, pondered putting the Union Jack up as an AV and then decided not to. People recognize that everyone's sensibilities are a little delicate at a moment like this, and they are afraid of offending by seeming to appropriate the grief of those directly affected. It can be awkward to say, "We share your sorrow." I remember with deep gratitude the American flags on the Champs Elysee and the Star Spangled Banner being played at Buckingham Palace's changing of the guard on September 11th. But sometimes people are afraid that the response will be, "How dare you pretend to be one of us? How dare you intrude at this moment?" They want to be both respectful and sympathetic, and sometimes they're not sure how to combine those two. Please don't think it means that they don't care. They're just uncertain how to show it.

Shanglan

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Shanglan, all that you say is noted and appreciated. This was a cowardly act by cowards, it beggar's belief! I do not accuse anyone of anything, despite the urge to give vent to anger, but a tribute, as often seen on Lit's Homepage, would, I'm sure, be seen as a sign of solidarity and respect among friends.

I think the site owners are away on vacation or something because Laurel had mentioned things would slow down for a couple of weeks. This could explain the reason that nothing has been mentioned on the front page. I'm sure they are in no way ignoring the tragedy.

I'm so very glad that all of our bunch and others are safe and am horribly saddened that tragedies of this kind still take place. My heart goes out to all who were injured and to the families who lost loved ones.

 

[sandmartin]

I agree. Please, though, try to take it as hesitation to offend and not lack of empathy. Even my SO, who is English, pondered putting the Union Jack up as an AV and then decided not to. People recognize that everyone's sensibilities are a little delicate at a moment like this, and they are afraid of offending by seeming to appropriate the grief of those directly affected. It can be awkward to say, "We share your sorrow." I remember with deep gratitude the American flags on the Champs Elysee and the Star Spangled Banner being played at Buckingham Palace's changing of the guard on September 11th. But sometimes people are afraid that the response will be, "How dare you pretend to be one of us? How dare you intrude at this moment?" They want to be both respectful and sympathetic, and sometimes they're not sure how to combine those two. Please don't think it means that they don't care. They're just uncertain how to show it.

Shanglan

So gallantly put - thank you.

 

[oggbashan]

...They want to be both respectful and sympathetic, and sometimes they're not sure how to combine those two. Please don't think it means that they don't care. They're just uncertain how to show it.

Shanglan

Hug an English person. That should be fairly easy for you.

Then think about visiting London for the 2012 Olympics. You will be welcomed.

Many of us in the UK would like to visit the US. For some of us the US immigration procedures on entry are deterrent enough to make us think of going anywhere else.

Og

 

[Shadowskill Knight]

thankyou and thanks for the hug

Let us know when you get news.

 

[yui]

Has the earl checked in?

Haven't seen him around the boards for some time. He's a long way from London, though. I wouldn't worry.

Shanglan

Hi people,

The Earl and his people are alive. He's having broadband issues. I'll let him tell his story, but he did ask that I pass on the message that he's okay. (I don't know if this good news is posted somewhere else, if it is, please forgive my redundancy.)

Tears, hearts, and flowers to all the UK litizens and for those who are waiting for word of family and friends. May they be good words when they come.

I don't mean to be so brief, but I'm on a company network and I would hate to lose my new job before I get paid. I owe a number of people replies to PMs and emails. I haven't forgotten you; I'm just not able to reply right now.

I miss you people quite fiercely.

Luck to us all,

Yui

 

[shereads]

Many of us in the UK would like to visit the US. For some of us the US immigration procedures on entry are deterrent enough to make us think of going anywhere else.

Og

If you can get past immigration, how about a house trade for the remainder of hurricane season? Summer, that is...?

 

[shereads]

Hi people,

The Earl and his people are alive. He's having broadband issues. I'll let him tell his story, but he did ask that I pass on the message that he's okay. (I don't know if this good news is posted somewhere else, if it is, please forgive my redundancy.)

Tears, hearts, and flowers to all the UK litizens and for those who are waiting for word of family and friends. May they be good words when they come.

I don't mean to be so brief, but I'm on a company network and I would hate to lose my new job before I get paid. I owe a number of people replies to PMs and emails. I haven't forgotten you; I'm just not able to reply right now.

I miss you people quite fiercely.

Luck to us all,

Yui

You've been missed. Thanks for checking in, and for the news about The Earl.

Now we need a Pops update.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Hi people,

The Earl and his people are alive. He's having broadband issues. I'll let him tell his story, but he did ask that I pass on the message that he's okay. (I don't know if this good news is posted somewhere else, if it is, please forgive my redundancy.)

Tears, hearts, and flowers to all the UK litizens and for those who are waiting for word of family and friends. May they be good words when they come.

I don't mean to be so brief, but I'm on a company network and I would hate to lose my new job before I get paid. I owe a number of people replies to PMs and emails. I haven't forgotten you; I'm just not able to reply right now.

I miss you people quite fiercely.

Luck to us all,

Yui

Thanks so much Yui!

*HUGS*

 

[matriarch]

Having just watched footage of people walking the streets of London around the bombing areas, with photographs of missing loved ones......I can't speak, my throat just closes up at what they are going through.

- A couple just along the coast from me, who's son texted them minutes before the first blast, to say he'd just arrived at Liverpool street......he was in London that day only to attend a training course. They haven't heard from him since. The pain on his mother's face will haunt me for days.

- A muslim family in London, where the daughter/sister/niece/granddaughter has disappeared, last heard from just before the bombs went off.....once again, the tears of the father and grandfather.....men unashamedly showing their pain and grief.

- A brother, desperately trying to find his younger sister, travelling to work on the tube. She never arrived at work, and nothing has been heard.

These stories and many more - the individuals - bring the pain, the horror,the heartache, the sheer bloody fucking waste of life, thundering into my heart and head.

It just goes on and on.

I don't know that I'll ever have enough tears to mourn these wasted lives.
If I feel this way, an unrelated onlooker, there is no way I can ever, EVER comprehend the grief of their families.

Selfishly, I merely pray I will never be in that situation.
Right now, I wish my sons were here so I could simply hold them, tell them how much I love them, how rich they have made my life. We never know when its going to be too late.

 

[Black Tulip]

I only realized last night after the late news there are still bodies underground.
It makes my stomach turn into knots.
Knowing, but hoping against hope must be devastating for their loved ones.

I'm glad I make a point of telling my son I love him before leaving for extended trips.
Hugging him is allowed on those occasions because I'm a silly superstitious mother.

Anybody heard from Hotchkiss? I PM'ed him, but sofar no reply.