My reactions on hearing about today's bombings in London:
"Oh, no - not again."
An almost visceral sensation of being transported back to 1976, to Platform 3 at Baker Street Station, waiting for a Metropolitan Line train, seeing a momentarily unattended bag, and being convinced that it was another IRA bomb. (It wasn't. But to this day I scan for unattended packages or bags in trains, buses, and public spaces, as a matter of deep habit.)
Are my colleagues at SunUK all right? (So far the answer seems to be yes.)
Thinking how stupid Bush's "We'll fight them in Iraq so we don't have to fight them at home" sounds now.
A deep satisfaction that the cricket match between England and Australia went on without a hiccup. And England won by nine wickets: Australia 219-7, England 220-1 in 46 overs.
A strong impulse to jump on a plane to Heathrow. (I guess that removes any doubt about where I think of as home.)
Hollow laughter at hearing a survivor explain that "nobody in my carriage panicked when we heard the explosion and saw the smoke, because we assumed that it was just another technical malfunction."
Reading Tim Bray's piece (linked from Chris's), and remembering a group counselling session after 9/11 when I was shouted down for saying that I thought we needed to understand why people do these things better than we do. We still need to.
Trying to imagine what it would be like to pack your briefcase (removing any unnecessary weight), get an extra bottle of water from the vending machine, and prepare to leave work in the City and walk five, eight, or ten miles home. And just doing it, without any fuss.
my favourite joke about the whole event (coming from a Brit on /. of course):
"Well, sooooomebody is bitter about losing the Olympics to London."
I know some people find humour in these situations to be in poor taste, but I find it helps to lighten up an otherwise dark time.
Posted by: steve at July 8, 2005 11:01 AMI've been feeling many of the same things, actually. Hmmmm.
Posted by: Chris A at July 8, 2005 12:25 PMWe were huddled around the computer last night, looking at the details (No TV where we're staying). Many thoughts... I had the same thought about the Olympics, but was too embarrassed to make it.
H. is struggling with it - it feels completely real to her, in a way that 9/11 didn't - a difference in age, and a sense of "I know these places".
For me, more sadness than anger.
Kate
Posted by: kate at July 9, 2005 10:26 AMNow that it is being reported that the bombers were British born (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4676577.stm),
there is more need than ever for understanding why people do these things.