Thu 7 Jul 2005
Derek Charles Catsam ‘93 has thoughts on today’s terrorist attack in London.
But London, England, the UK will not be cowed. Tony Blair is clearly resolute. The world will rally behind the British people. Al Qaeda, or whoever did this, will not win, though in the short-term they were able to turn one of the most exciting times in recent British history into one of the most tragic.
…
I suppose it feels more immediate than it would if I were in the US, and I have the benefit of proximity, but mostly, like everyone else, I am saddened and angry and frustrated and devastated. But also resolute and hopeful.
No word yet on whether any Ephs were among the casualties in London, although my two (married) Carter House buddies are safe and sound.
Lindsay Morehouse ‘00 would have been 27 this year. Brian Murphy’s ‘80 fatherless daughters are 8 and 9. Ephs serve in uniform around the world, ready and willing to bring violence against the evil that confronts us all.
Semper Fidelis.
July 7th, 2005 at 8:21 pm
With respect to terror practiced against them, favorable signs are beginning to be seen indicating that (like the Israelis long ago) Americans and Brits are becoming tougher minded (as reflected in the financial markets) and more courageous physically.
July 7th, 2005 at 9:42 pm
Remember the Blitz? I think the Brits have been tough-minded and courageous for a while, really…
July 8th, 2005 at 2:52 am
From the BBC reporters’ log, talking about the financial markets (ie City of London):
July 8th, 2005 at 2:57 am
also from the same source:
July 8th, 2005 at 3:06 am
But different eras mean different Americans and different Brits. Lamarck and Shaw to the contrary notwithstanding, acquired characteristics are not inherited; new generations have to learn them all over again.
July 8th, 2005 at 3:14 am
Incidentall, Aidan, I’m so old that I actually do remember the Blitz; I do not merely remember some one telling me, or reading, about it.
July 8th, 2005 at 10:42 am
A couple things to keep in mind:
1) The Brits are somewhat inured to terrorist attacks due to the IRA. Additionally- and granted, people were saying this ex post facto- some folks at Cam have claimed, particularly after the Madrid attacks, that they knew something like this in London was inevitable.
2) The scale and type of this attack is very different from 9/11. Not just the number of deaths, but the level of structural transformation. The skyline of the world city was wrenched by 9/11; the cleanup from this attack should be done in weeks.
That said, the Brits seem to be reacting with a lot more equanimity, and at some level not near so much intensity. People aren’t weeping, at lunch today there was the usual banter and not a single mention of the bombings; nobody seems to need therapy and people just don’t seem all that generally affected. It’s honestly nice to see, just because going through the turmoil of 9/11 was bad enough once.
July 8th, 2005 at 10:47 am
Not to taunt terror, but fewer than 50 deaths from 4 bombings is close to incompetence.