Six Confirmed Bus and Tube Explosions in Central London

[Bangel]

Don't you mean thirded?

[Xil]

but, a true muslim would not endorse killing.

I keep hearing that everywhere. Yet I also hear Muslims say that true Muslims should support these acts. IT CONFUSES ME

People pervert religion for political desires or beliefs all of the time. Suffice it to say that a Muslim who follows the Quran and knows the Quran would not support terrorism. A true believer would not kill women and children to get a point across, but a transgressor would.

Hollaback man, hollaback.

---

o.O; I don't dislike Terrorists becuase they are Muslims. I dislike Terrorists because of what they do. And one of the reasons I dislike Muslims are because so many terrorists are muslims and do what they do in the name of Allah. Or something along those lines.

Stijn, the faith is being exercised as a weapon when terrorists commit these acts. Next to someones family, many people would say the best way to lead a man is by his faith. That is exactly what they're trying to do here. People have taken advantage of peoples beliefs for thousands of years. Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt claimed to be part God, doing this caused their people loyalty to go through the roof. This was because not only did the king have the people's nationalism, but their faith as well. Frankly, some of these terrorists probably recognize what they're doing and are simply using the faith as a way to lead people.

These terrorists cannot be called Islamic because what they've done is condemned in the Qu'ran. it's frowned upon the same way killing is frowned upon in most societies.

I'm not trying to grill you or insult you, Stijn, it's simply what's thrown at all of us everyday. Sad to say that media, society and the like tend to condition us to think in a way that promotes stereotypes instead of acceptance. I don't think ignorance should be an excuse though, so hopefully reading this thread will have given you a clear idea of just what these terrorists are doing.

[Morningstar]

I do admire us Brits for even the day of the attack making humour out of it. While it's deeply sad, it shows our resolve not to let it beat us. Wayhey.

"When the news reporter said "Shopkeepers are opening their doors bringing out blankets and cups of tea" I just smiled. It's like yes. That's Britain for you. Tea solves everything. You're a bit cold? Tea. Your boyfriend has just left you? Tea. You've just been told you've got cancer? Tea. Coordinated terrorist attack on the transport network bringing the city to a grinding halt? TEA DAMMIT! And if it's really serious, they may bring out the coffee. The Americans have their alert raised to red, we break out the coffee. That's for situations more serious than this of course. Like another England penalty shoot-out."

Please, don't condemn the shopkeepers for trying to be nice. Better that they bring out tea to people in need than to snub their noses and say "Better you than me."

It is a gesture of kindness that the media made into an "event." If anything, blame the media for capitalizing on it.

Oh, and you mentioned a red alert was here in the U.S. We Americans shake our heads and say "what in the heck does that mean?" I hear on the news, "Today is a yellow." "Today is an orange." "Oh, today it has been elevated to a red." We still don't know what all of these different color codes really mean. I see no more police presence on a red day than a yellow day. We don't get into our gas masks and storm trooper outfits on red days. No one gives us extra food, water, or any type of instruction on a red day. There are no drills for the average citizen. No bomb shelters for us to run into. Trust me, we are little lost lambs. Maybe not in New York, since they went through it. But, here in the suburbs of Chicago? Ha. Little lost lambs with our fingers crossed. So, I think I would rather have the tea.

[Tharkun]

British lack of confidence has been so played-up over here that I was actually dreading a parliamentary vote of no confidence in Blair. It is a wonderful thing to be wrong.

I have to admire the courage they're showing in London these past few days. It's incredible.

[Igg]

I do admire us Brits for even the day of the attack making humour out of it. While it's deeply sad, it shows our resolve not to let it beat us. Wayhey.

"When the news reporter said "Shopkeepers are opening their doors bringing out blankets and cups of tea" I just smiled. It's like yes. That's Britain for you. Tea solves everything. You're a bit cold? Tea. Your boyfriend has just left you? Tea. You've just been told you've got cancer? Tea. Coordinated terrorist attack on the transport network bringing the city to a grinding halt? TEA DAMMIT! And if it's really serious, they may bring out the coffee. The Americans have their alert raised to red, we break out the coffee. That's for situations more serious than this of course. Like another England penalty shoot-out."

Please, don't condemn the shopkeepers for trying to be nice. Better that they bring out tea to people in need than to snub their noses and say "Better you than me."

It is a gesture of kindness that the media made into an "event." If anything, blame the media for capitalizing on it.

Sweetheart, I wasn't condemning the shopkeepers. It must be that English sense of humour the Americans fail to understand again

I think it's fantastic the way that everyone in London dealt with it- some shops had signs up saying 'Business as usual, you'll have to do better than that!'.

I was just poking fun at the British resolve of solving everything with a cup of tea. And it's true, we do.

Oh, and you mentioned a red alert was here in the U.S. We Americans shake our heads and say "what in the heck does that mean?" I hear on the news, "Today is a yellow." "Today is an orange." "Oh, today it has been elevated to a red." We still don't know what all of these different color codes really mean. I see no more police presence on a red day than a yellow day. We don't get into our gas masks and storm trooper outfits on red days. No one gives us extra food, water, or any type of instruction on a red day. There are no drills for the average citizen. No bomb shelters for us to run into. Trust me, we are little lost lambs. Maybe not in New York, since they went through it. But, here in the suburbs of Chicago? Ha. Little lost lambs with our fingers crossed. So, I think I would rather have the tea.

Again, I er...wasn't criticisng the shopkeepers. You do have the wrong end of the stick.

The only thing I know about alerts is that Black is fine. My mum works in Government offices and my friend Rachel works for Greater Manchester Police, and they did explain them to me once, but Black is the regular state of alert- i.e. none.

[Twinkle]

I do also find it amusing that we Brits try to solve everything with a cuppa. I remember when some idiots stole my mom's car and was rampaging through the town in it, running people over, smashing through shop windows and basically causing havoc. It was 3am (I was about 8 at the time), the helicopters were out and my mom was pretty worried about what exactly they were doing with her car. My little sister came down crying and the policewoman said "There, there, it'll be all better soon... let's have a nice cup of tea, eh?"

I can't help being reminded of it. Sorry for prattling, heh. I too find the resilience of our country amazing and for once, I'm proud to be a Brit.

[Josephine]

I'm not patriotic but I do think it's great how people have pulled together and helped out.

It was scary watching it on the News and knowing that all this was happening right now, as you watched it. *rambles*

[Trick]

It's pretty calming when you see the overall reaction in this country, the day itself was terrible with people pretty shocked but then the next day no matter where you lived you went off to work the next day and everything was back to normal.

It is terrible what happened but if the terrorists were expecting panic and terror, people taking to the streets or what ever then they must be sorely disappointed. And yes tea was flowing freely everywhere =)

Let's just hope the security is tightened sufficiently, as while I recognise that sometimes there is just nothing you can do it's better to err on the safe side. As many columnists and papers wrote "of course Britain will pull through, we always do, this time will be no different. But why the hell should we have to".

[Christopher]

I won't be suprised if the aftereffect of this is the passing of those horrific bio-identification cards.

[Rachel]

I won't be suprised if the aftereffect of this is the passing of those horrific bio-identification cards.

ooh, i wanted to know this. Why are they so horriffic?

[optimus_87_ca]

I won't be suprised if the aftereffect of this is the passing of those horrific bio-identification cards.

ooh, i wanted to know this. Why are they so horriffic?

Because they identify you biologically? Some people don't like bio-ID stuff.

[sparkygoesforth]

I won't be suprised if the aftereffect of this is the passing of those horrific bio-identification cards.

ooh, i wanted to know this. Why are they so horriffic?

Because they identify you biologically? Some people don't like bio-ID stuff.

Three reasons for opposition to ID cards:

1. It's been estimated by some that the cards, once implemented, will cost us upwards of £200, this opposed to about £45 for a current passport.

2. It's feared that the creation of a single national database containing biometric and other personal details on every resident in the UK could lead us closer to a 'Big Brother'-style controlled state, and also be a target for hackers.

3. Some think that ID cards are of limited use in foiling terrorist attacks, pointing to the fact that Spain's existing ID card system was unable to thwart the Madrid train bombings.

[Rachel]

what do you mean by a "big-brother" style controlled state? (and dont refer me to 1984, i have read it).

[Asthaloth]

a government that watches your every move, a total lack of privacey and freedom.
to coin a phrase (by that, i mean blatantly steal, without remembering it properly)
"security at the sacrafice of freedom is the refuge of the Tyrant"
or somthing like that

and if youve read ninteen-eighty-four you should have gotten that message surely?


edit:
that, and there is no way in the nine levels of hell that i will pay £200 for the government to realise i dont do anything illegal

[sparkygoesforth]

What Setekh said

What also makes some people twitchy is that these cards will store biometric and other personally identifiable information on a microchip in the card - and it is possible that these microchips will be accessible to computers without even having to swipe the cards through a reader (a lot like some door-entry systems work nowadays - you wave your card near a scanner, or even just wear it round your neck, to unlock doors). The theory is that this system rolled out on a national scale and connected to a large database could be used by Government agencies to track what you do, where you go, when you go there (and, if the ID card included some kind of 'wallet' functionality, what you buy) - all without your knowledge. Also this could be a target for identity thieves much like a credit card can be 'cloned' at a rigged ATM nowadays.

The worry is that this system could increase government agencies' control over the individual. Who needs Telescreens everywhere, being monitored 24 hours a day, searching for any indiscretion, when the cards and computers could do it all for you? The obvious counter to these concerns is that "If you are doing nothing wrong, then you have nothing to fear" - which is hunky-dory as long as you trust government agencies implicitly. After all they never make mistakes... do they?

(disclaimer: most of my knowledge of the proposed scheme and its flaws comes from The Register which is notoriously left-wing )