Checking in after Westminster attack

[amberdreams]

I was in London today to see Andrew Scott's Hamlet, but luckily the closest I got to Westminster Bridge was Trafalgar Square, and the Almeida Theatre is in Islington, miles away from the incident. It was still upsetting and disconcerting to get texts in the interval and have to update my status to let everyone know I was okay.

I feel for the families whose lives were shattered today.

There is no excuse for targeting innocent, random strangers, whatever your cause. The death of Martin McGuiness highlighted this fact yesterday. He might have gone on to help broker the peace in Northern Ireland but he was also responsible for the Birmingham pub bombings and the Manchester Arndale centre. No matter that he said, all his justifications that his struggle was with the establishment and the injustices of the occupation of his country - this was not resistance fighting against the RUC or the Parachute Regiment, this was murder of people who had no involvement in the Irish Troubles, they were civilians. It still makes me angry to think about what the IRA did back then, how Al Qaeda and ISIS are following in their footsteps now, but on a global scale.

Anyway, I didn't come on here to rant, so I'll shut up. I'll be back in London again on Friday for acouple of days theatre-going, and to meet up with the lovely beelikej, and nothing's going to stop us going to Choccywoccydoodah. 

Comments

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

I hadn't looked at the news at all today, so I'm just hearing of this. There's no excuse indeed. Glad you're safe.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks, me dear.

[toratio.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear you're alright. This whole thing is insane, I know.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Terrorism and extremism - I just don't get it.

[toratio.livejournal.com]

Me neither. How can you hate a person/group of people so much you'd want to go out of your way to cause them harm? Or put any kind of faith in a deity that encourages people to kill. I just can't wrap my head around it.

[sillie]

It's horrible. Glad you're okay. <3

Have fun hanging out with J.! :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm sure we will... :D

[deanshot1]

Glad you're okay.
I am Irish and I completely agree with you on your above piece about Martin McGuiness because he was involved with IRA and what his part in the Birmingham pub bombings and the Manchester Arndale centre (that one I didn't know about) was wrong because it was innocent civilians that were killed and hurt.
Enjoy meeting your friend and seeing the theatre.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

It's interesting to listen to people talking about the IRA and the roles of Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams. The situation in Northern Ireland is better but the divisions are still not healed - and opinion is hugely divided on those two men in particular. It's a shame neither was of the calibre of Nelson Mandela.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you were in London today, glad to hear you're alright. Rant all you like, bb, it's what we do. And we also will not let this prevent us from continuing with all the good stuff in our lives. I'm looking forward even more to seeing you again and to share some chocolately goodness. Plus I want to hear all about Hamlet! <3

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aye, well, you can't beat a good rant. See you soon!

[fairyniamh]

Are people out of their damned minds? When has the taking of innocent lives done anything, other than piss people off?

All I can do is sit here in the states and hope some true light shines through. Be careful out there. London or anywhere else. There are a lot of crazies out there. So, there is no telling who will snap next.

*hugs*

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

There are crazies everywhere - to be honest, I would be more concerned about the mentally disturbed with relatively easy access to automatic weapons than the ISIS or Al Qaeda influenced extremists here. Extremists are a little easier to keep an eye on, generally.

[runedgirl.livejournal.com]

So horrible, so frightening. Glad you're ok.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I hate that there are so many people walking round with violence in their hearts.

[http://users.livejournal.com/tesserae_/]

*hugs*

Awful news, just awful. My condolences to the families, and really, to all of you...

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the hugs but no condolences are needed by me, or most of us - those all go to the French families of the injured kids; the South Koreans; the students from Ormskirk; the dead; together with all the people who had to witness such a shocking event.

Fucking terrorists.

[etrix.livejournal.com]

Good to know that you and yours weren't hurt (I won't say "not affected", because of course you are).

I dislike how violent extremism still exists. It proves we are doing something wrong (like electing ignorant racists with access to a Twitter account, and allowing devastating military actions with no moral or ethical purpose).

Give your loved ones a hug or a phone call, and allow yourself to enjoy that they're in your life.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly - I can see that there are occasions when violent resistance is the only way, for instance where there is massive injustice and systematic oppression,but there are very few situations in the world today where that is the case. And certainly Al Qaeda and ISIS are not in that category. Theirs is not justifiable use of weapons against tyranny or infamy. In fact, they are the oppressors not the oppressed everywhere they hold the reins of power. There are very few situations that are resolved by the use of extremism, especially violent extremism.

[etrix.livejournal.com]

My personal opinion of the mess in the Middle East is like that meme that was going around a while back: "If you don't want [refugees/terrorists] in your country, stop dropping bombs on ours."

And it's not like western culture doesn't understand the desire for revenge. How many action movies are based on the lead character seeking revenge for the death of a loved one? Too many to count, really. And we don't call them terrorists or extremists but that's what they act like.

I suppose the difference is, in something like John Wick, the hero is OF our culture and the bad guys did kill his puppy, that that makes his actions "acceptable".

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh don't get me wrong, I totally agree that the West (and GB) has had a hand (or several) in creating the horrible mess that is the Middle East, but I don't think ISIS or Al Qaeda are out for vengeance - at least that isn't their main driver, though obviously they are happy to point to US bombings of civilian targets as a means to incentivise their supporters. As usual, it's not black and white - they are wrong and we are right, us vs them. But it suits some high-ups on both sides to make it seem that way to keep themselves in power...and the media are totally irresponsible too. *sigh*

[walking_tornado]

Glad you're okay. Scary. :(

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Indeed, but it's pointless worrying about these things really. As the notice in the Tube today pointed out - we're British so no matter what you do, we'll drink tea and carry on.

[walking_tornado]

Excellent! I'll have a cup in solidarity.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to hear you're safe, but what a tragedy and so close to home. My thoughts are with all the victims and their families ♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Mine too.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Jesus hun! I had no clue you were gonna be there, I heard about it on the news and was just scared witless! I tried emailing a bunch of you but my work's internet was mucking about. So glad you're okay!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

The odds are against one of us being directly affected I suppose, but it's still a bit scary.