Condem-nation

This isn't a news source, so I didn't need to rush to a keyboard to post something about the daily happenings of last week.

After "7/7" in London (good to see that at least they have a consideration for the illogical date system used by our all-too-easily-confused brothers across the pond), from the various news sources which seem to saturate one's senses at times like this, the thing I heard most was this: "we condemn".

Forgive me for being naive, (and being too lazy to look for the double-dotted i) but what's the point? This is a disturbing trend of recent times. Do we need our leaders to issue a statement to speedily "condemn" things like this? Are they concerned that, if they don't reassure us quickly that they don't condone such violence (at least not against us... erm... no, I won't go there...), we may think that they secretly planned it.

How many of us were sighing resignedly to see good ol' Tony playing at being President? With all the hobnobbing with those who have large marble mantelpieces, he must have forgotten that he has a parliament to address for things like this. Having Mr. Dubya on his shoulder hardly lessened the effect. Can no-one see that the worst thing that we can do is to take pride in this pathetic claim of defiance? Did having the US of A soaked in stars and stripes improve anything beyond Dubya's ratings? Did it improve the Christian White West's image to the rest of the world?

With recent evidence, I'm doubting it.

I know I'm not addressing the world by writing here (thank goodness!). The "let's just get on with things" mantra is highly applaudable, and the deeper it goes towards peoples' hearts, the better.

Though I have become, even a little, more sympathetic to the difficulty of this deliberate apathy. After having little connection with which to empathise with New Yorkers four years ago, these bombs in London provided I think the most concerning news I've seen. With several good friends and family in London, though I knew of no reason why they should be involved in those Tube stations at that time, it was quite unsettling.

There could have been individuals from something like 10 million people on the Tubes. Under 1000 were hurt, making it 0.01%, in my mind anyway.

Statistics are one thing, but when it comes to the crunch, it can be hard to believe them.

But to desperately call around anyone who could have possibly been in the area would be rather less than "acting as normal". If there's anything I need to know, I'd know soon enough. Yes, I'll keep on trying this defiant apathy thing. What did I have for dinner today then? Cold pasta salad with some very nice dressing, followed by a cup of tea. How patriotic.

So, what was I trying to say in all this? Oh yes, haven't we had enough condemnation yet?