The Capital Remembers its Dead (well, most of them)

The reaction amongst 'community leaders' and politicians after the tragic events of 7 July was encouragingly non-vengeful. Many in London society immediately sought to look to the root of the problem - asking how four British men had been driven to carry out this hateful act, rather than the most effective and satisfying way of making someone pay (which may have been the reaction of certain other 'administrations'). Dissapointing then was the decision by the organisers of yesterday's moving service of rememberance at St Paul's Cathedral not to invite the families of the four suicide bombers - as if they would somehow prove offensive. Maybe those positive sentiments in the aftermath of the bombs are wearing a little thin - we're still referring to the '52 dead' which doesn't include those four who perished when they detonated the bombs. It seems to me that the families of these four men are as much victims in this terrible situation as anyone. We must be aware of the anger these men must have felt about global political situations (which this is - a political conscience magnified and distorted by al qaeda chiefs into an evil desire to kill), and wake up more readily to the fact that the only way to deal with terrorism is by changing our attitude towards that which is alien to us; and inviting the isolated, victimised and entirely innocent families of these bombers would have made a nice start on that little project. Whilst I cannot imagine the pain and suffering of those affected by the bombs themselves through injury or bereavement and the effects that pain must have, I still wonder when will we all learn that forgiveness is the only way to begin an effective process of reconciliation - whether you're a christian, a muslim, a hindu or a humanist. Never, I guess. Otherwise the world would be that bit too sensible.

Comments

[Matthew Whitfield]

Yes, I heartily agree with you. What petty, underhand committee was it that decided that the families couldn't invited? It's as though they're enemies of the state. It's all part of this desire - including the service in St Paul's - to pretend that this is a traditional military conflict, with goodies and baddies and all the accoutrements of war that we all feel comfortable with. What nonsense. The tragic loss of life should be mourned, of course, by why using the pomp and glitz of the British state? The people who died weren't brave heroes but innocent victims of a conflict which the state itself helped to create and exacerbate. A hypocritical charade, indeed, and it made me quite sick.