The British Spirit

[daveymck]

I mentioned yesterday the speech the Mayor of London did when he heard about the attacks yesterday, its bene followed up by a lot of good stuff in the papers today but I thought I would post it as for me it summed up everything that I feel is great about my country and how we repsond to attack and adversity.

"I want to say one thing specifically to the world today. This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.

That isn't an ideology, it isn't even a perverted faith - it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other. I said yesterday to the International Olympic Committee, that the city of London is the greatest in the world, because everybody lives side by side in harmony. Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved and that is why I'm proud to be the mayor of that city.

Finally, I wish to speak directly to those who came to London today to take life.

I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others - that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society and I can show you why you will fail.

In the days that follow look at our airports, look at our sea ports and look at our railway stations and, even after your cowardly attack, you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners and to fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential.

They choose to come to London, as so many have come before because they come to be free, they come to live the life they choose, they come to be able to be themselves. They flee you because you tell them how they should live. They don't want that and nothing you do, however many of us you kill, will stop that flight to our city where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another. Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail. "

[diebitter]

I usually disagree with Ken Livingston's views, but he is one of the few politicians I do actually respect, because I believe he speaks truthfully and without spin or artifice.

But..
His words were magnificent. They obviously come from the heart, and they speak straight to the heart. I am sure many, many Londoners and people worldwide found what he said a comfort and an inspiration.

Thanks Ken

[partygirluk]

I don't like Red Ken but that is a fantastic speech. The one thing I love about Britain most is our tolerance - every time I ride on the tube I will hear languages other than English - people are free to follow whichever practices they choose to, people from different backgrounds get along and don't really think anything of it. I am a little concerned that this will turn people against the Muslim community, but confident my fears will not be realised.

[Arnfinn Madsen]

Very good speech, I would like to add a statement from the Norwegian Islamic Council from yesterday:

[ QUOTE ]
The Islamic Council detest and condemn Thursday's terror attack in London. He who kills a human, is he who kills humanity, says the Qu'ran. This is something these terrorists seem to overlook. It is not completely certain that those who conducted it were moslems, but who did it does not matter for our condemnation, as the Islamic council detest terror, no matter who executes it. Attack at civilians is something Islam does not allow in any circumstance.

[/ QUOTE ]

[diebitter]

Well put too.. Maybe we should all wear t-shirts that alternate:

'YOU WILL FAIL'

and

"He who kills a human, is he who kills humanity, says the Qu'ran"

Maybe if these animals see this everywhere they go might eventually get the message.

[somethingstupid]

maybe politics forum?

[Monkeyslacks]

Stick it in her pooper!