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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLondon and the golf cart rider
I realize it's easy for me to say from my vantage point, but the London terrorists seem less and less the main focus as each hour passes. Their heinous acts are being overshadowed by the determination of London's leaders, the bravery of the first responders, the compassion of the people, even the attempt at a renewed calm.
A young man returns to pay his restaurant bill from hours ago, a young woman hands flowers to a policeman, another rides his bike for miles, carrying a satchel of water bottles for first responders, and thousands are defiantly singing in Manchester. It's goodness in motion, random acts of kindness, courageous resolve.
I'm uplifted by the examples Londoners have set, but these examples shine a glaring light on the difference between Londoners and the crass, inept, morally bankrupt American Bully in the golf cart.
greatauntoftriplets
(175,755 posts)When the bomb (it killed one, injured 44 and destroyed or damaged several buildings in the financial district) went off, I was at the Portobello Road Saturday market in Notting Hill. The bombing was several miles west of the financial district, but I had walked those streets just the day before.
Probably the only person to panic was me, because I had to wait several hours to call my family in Chicago and tell them that I was fine due to the six-hour time difference.
Meanwhile, Londoners went about their Saturday business as usual. They kept calm and carried on. I was thoroughly impressed and somewhat humbled by their example. It was exactly as you described in your OP.
zentrum
(9,865 posts)....children of parents who went through the Blitz. Not to mention WW's.
greatauntoftriplets
(175,755 posts)jovibennett
(120 posts)and citizens out in the world when are stuck with a self centered, man baby. I spent a lot of time in England and the genuine kindness the citizens show toward each other and visitors is nice to see. They are strong people who stand together in tough times.
calimary
(81,527 posts)We sure are stuck with a self-centered man-baby. I'm glad the Europeans have better leadership. Especially impressed with Macron of France. trump's behavior during his recent trip to the NATO meeting was horrifying, disgraceful, reprehensible, and humiliating.
When bush/cheney got "re-elected" (because there's still doubt about the legitimacy of the Ohio vote) in 2004, something that could be called a People's Outreach online started to spread. People posted "Sorry World" photos of themselves with their handmade signs, apologizing for foisting those two unindicted war criminals on the rest of the planet. I'm surprised we haven't seen or heard of one apologizing for trump/pence.
zoidaloid
(4 posts)I am truly sorry that some here in America couldn't discern their anal orifices from a subterranean contusion. He is not my President. He is a sham and dishonors and a blemish to the post to which he took over. Now we're finding there could have been vote tampering, which I'm quite sure will soon be found to be true! Sorry world for what we have unleash upon you but remember, there are those of us who are as strong as you and not let this man prevail for long.
calimary
(81,527 posts)I know how you feel. Every time his image blights my vision, I find myself thinking about the voters who somehow saw fit to vote for him for President. And I try like hell to find some way to understand them. I'm certainly told that I should do that. But I give up. To see how many of them are sticking with him, how he still has as much support from his cockamamie out-to-lunch so-called "base," I just lose all sense of understanding or patience. Yeah, okay, root for him when he first starts out in the new job. But SHIT! This clusterfuck is just NEVER-ENDING!!! It just NEVER ends! Every time one thinks he can't make a bigger fuckstick out of himself, he DOES! He's like a black mold epidemic or termite infestation or something! That's left untreated! I find myself looking at trump supporters differently now. That they voted for this beast tells me things about them that aren't very nice, and certainly don't provoke any sympathy from me. THEY decided to climb into bed with him. Unfortunately, it's meant the rest of us got dragged in there, too, and very much against our will. That was no election. That was a rape of most of America.
SORRY, WORLD. All I can say is that I'm proud that I never fell for it.
northoftheborder
(7,575 posts)Cha
(297,808 posts)Skittles
(153,226 posts)I know, because my mum and grandparents were WWII-surviving Brits
I grew up hearing many harrowing tales of those days from dad (who was from London) and mom (from Wales).
Skittles
(153,226 posts)my dad was a Depression era survivor
there were many discussions with the kids regarding what was NEEDED and what was just WANTED
dflprincess
(28,086 posts)Last edited Mon Jun 5, 2017, 09:38 PM - Edit history (1)
Meanwhile, across the pond, there are those who would panic and curb our civil rights over attacks that happened in another country. This is how the terrorists win.