London Calling

Originally Posted on June 30, 2005

It is truly hard to comprehend who we are supposed to react to today’s news from London. I went from shock to anger in a few milliseconds. This is the same anger I experienced on September 11, 2001.

I have never been to London. I always wanted to go and experience it. However, today’s bombings will not deter me from this dream. London is a polyglot of people that are tight knit and community-oriented. Yesterday, London scored the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. As an entire city celebrated, there was no indication of what may come the next morning.

Again, a cell of al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for interrupting the lives of a city and its nation. As with the attacks in the USA on September 11, 2001, Londoners were not prepared. It also appeared that the Blair Government were not prepares for such an attack, either.  

There will be fears. Fuel prices will respond accordingly. Airfares in and out of the UK will rise. Already the New York Stock Exchange experienced a drop in their index in their reaction to the London bombings. Yet, Prime Minister Tony Blair, in closing the G8 summit, has devoted his time in a quick resolution and recovery for the city. The International Olympic Committee remains committed to London as the site of the 2012 Games.

We will experience a lot of knee-jerk reactions to today’s bombings in London this morning. We will pray for those who were lost or injured during the four bombings in Central London. We will also become resilient to the enemies who want to destroy our society and our way of life.

We must also have to put our trust into a city that went through even worse in the past century. A lot of us may not recall the Blitz that Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe employed over the city in the early part of World War II. Unfortunately, this is a different war. A war over global society through a different interpretation of faith.

Today, I ask everyone to join me in sending healing to the people of London, the UK and the world. Let us hope that we can all rise above this and find a peaceful resolution to this chasm in our world. Let us be safe and secure in our everyday dealings. Let us continue living our lives, even if it means making a few adjustments to enable us to get through the day without fear.

Peace.