So did YOU stop?

What’s to compare anyway? Those killed on the 7th are just as dead as those killed during the Blitz. Or does it only warrant Rememberance when the death toll is much higher?

Kev, I agree, what is to compare? But that is what I have heard quite often since. Of course I believe it warrants rememberance, I do not advocate forgetting such events, it’s just that tragic events similar to these happen regularly around the world and unless it is something on the scale of the recent Tsunami then we go on regardless. It takes something to happen to OUR nation for us to care, nobody seems to care less about the victims of suicide bombers in Bagdad or elsewhere. I concur with Steve-O on the point that a nation can manage a two minutes show of rememberance yet some can’t show any sort of compassion in their daily lives. Several days after bombings, a flag at a local Gurdwara was set on fire here in Bradford. Lets remember that tragically lives have been lost in London and also remember that this kind of thing goes on too.

During the Blitz, and throughout the Second World War, I can imagine there wouldn’t have been many people untouched by the war. Almost everyone would have either lost someone or knew someone who had. Everyone would have had to spend years without the comforts we take for granted and for some time live in real fear that a way of life was at serious risk. I too see comparisons as pointless but the media wishes to do so.

Andrewman, I’m sorry you feel this is an arguement. I’m taking part in the spirit of conversation/debate. We all, I’m sure, have the common feeling of sadness/disgust at what happened in London almost two weeks ago.

best regards, steve

Yes of course I stopped, however it seems a bit sad that a 2 minute silence has caused augments on this and several other forums.

I don’t see an argument, just a discussion. :confused:

Yes of course I stopped, however it seems a bit sad that a 2 minute silence has caused augments on this and several other forums.

I just find it frustrating that we can get the majority of the UK to do nothing for 2 minutes as a show of sympathy, but we can’t unite to put an end to all the inhumanity we have to tolerate in this country.

Yes of course I stopped, however it seems a bit sad that a 2 minute silence has caused augments on this and several other forums.

Completely agree. Well said that man.

Yes of course I stopped, however it seems a bit sad that a 2 minute silence has caused augments on this and several other forums.

Yes I stopped, the entire FRIAT Grandstand at Fairford stopped as did the entire airfield, Big Ben was broadcast over the ground radio channels to signal the start and the end of the 2 minutes, the U2 stayed in the hold at the pilots request.

Petty inter-forum differences were put to oneside and we all stood, shoulder to shoulder, in silent reflection.

What’s to compare anyway? Those killed on the 7th are just as dead as those killed during the Blitz. Or does it only warrant Rememberance when the death toll is much higher?

No Kevin it only merits a rememberance when it’s a high profile event such as we’ve seen. Or so it would seem?

As you’ve already said, you remember you’re murdered uncle. I remember my deceased parents, everyone remembers people who’ve passed, especially when they are close.

Just the night before the bombings I attended an event which encouraged 50,000 people to remember a similar daily death toll in Africa with the click of a finger. I don’t think numbers matter in any of these cases? One needless death is enough let alone 50 or 500 or 5000 or 50,000.

Blitz spirit, Dunkirk spirit, human spirit whatever? We should do more to prevent these unfortunate situations from occuring in the first place, instead of wallowing in self pity and silences of rememberance when these things hit us. I really don’t know how exactly they make a bit of difference ?

To answer the original question.. No I didn’t stop, what’s the point of stopping when there’s work to be done?

This idea of a ‘blitz’ spirit is nonsense, it’s the human spirit. One bomb in London killing 55 people, tragic as that may be, is incomparable with thousands of civillians killed by Nazi bombers.

Is it? The Blitz occurred in time of war, when London was being hit daily and then nightly. Approximately 60-70,000 were killed during the Blitz. The death toll in germany was much, much higher. The 7th of July bombings occurred during a time of peace, and more importantly the Nation was targeted from within, not without. Many of those involved would not have experienced the Blitz and it is probable that not too many Londoners had been personally affected by the IRA outrages.

What’s to compare anyway? Those killed on the 7th are just as dead as those killed during the Blitz. Or does it only warrant Rememberance when the death toll is much higher?

Regards,

kev35

The idea of a silence in rememberance after such events has always struck me as strange. On the one hand I find it a moving gesture for events like this, rememberance day etc but then we see no similiar gesture offered for innocent people who are killed at the hands of suicide bombers everyweek in Iraq or other countries worldwide. In the Independent today it was remarked that 31 suicide bombers have killed 238 people in Iraq since the London bombings. Yet, we as a nation, are not asked or do not willingly hold silences for these people and their families who have suffered.

I personally did not hold a silence in a thought out manner, i was out walking and as a resut was quite because of this. I feel that if I want to spare a thought for these people then I can do it in my own time and not have to be told to make a gesture.

This idea of a ‘blitz’ spirit is nonsense, it’s the human spirit. One bomb in London killing 55 people, tragic as that may be, is incomparable with thousands of civillians killed by Nazi bombers.

Jbritchford, I believe there is already a memorial in London open to the public. I think its a small garden in a park (not sure which park though).

In the cake shop I work in we couldn’t stop – it was too busy!

If I’d been anymore stopped I’d have been dead. I was asleep between night shifts.

That’s the point though, your Uncle and the dozens of other people murdered in recent weeks didn’t get a silence in their memory.

It seems like the media and politicians are only interested in dramatic murders.

I think you miss the point Steve. My Uncle’s death affected a very small number of people in comparison to those affected by last Thursday’s murders. His death, significant as it was to his family, could never have had the impact on the Nation that the bombings have had. The death of my Uncle was at the hands of an individual, a common thief, not at the hands of a group of Religious extremists whose sole intention is to destroy Western Society.

Regards,

kev35

Yes, I did.
I was filling in the online form for the book of condolence http://www.london.gov.uk/

Thanks for posting that link, I had been looking to sign a book of condolence but we don’t have any available here.

I made a mental note to switch on the TV for the silence so I knew when it would start and end so I could join in with it. Normally here in Scarborough the cannon is fired to mark the start and end of silences but it wasn’t yesterday. It was moving to see all those people standing like that.

LOL ok i live bout 4 miles away, in Penmachno, and i think its Llanllechid you are taling about, but i know where 🙂

That’s it. Nice little place.

dme

I did, but we have a two minute silence for so many things that it does seem like we should do more. Is there a memorial for the London victims planned?

I stopped. I don’t think halting my life for two minutes to remember those who have had their lives taken away from them is too much to ask. My uncle was murdered a while ago. I think of him every day.

Still, Perhaps I’m just the sort of person who likes to make ’empty’ gestures.

That’s the point though, your Uncle and the dozens of other people murdered in recent weeks didn’t get a silence in their memory.

It seems like the media and politicians are only interested in dramatic murders.

I love that name, Betws-y-Coed. I used to know a girl who lived not far from there. Llanchedid or something.

LOL ok i live bout 4 miles away, in Penmachno, and i think its Llanllechid you are taling about, but i know where 🙂

I stopped (working at McDonalds). The whole restaurant came to a stand still and everyone went silent. We also refused to cook anything five minutes before the two minute silence so that no timer bleeping noises would go off during it.

I was working @ the tourist info centre in Betws-y-Coed yesturday, and we did stop everything

I love that name, Betws-y-Coed. I used to know a girl who lived not far from there. Llanchedid or something.

Yes I stopped for the 2 mins.

dme