07.07.2005
This is how quickly fate can change in a blood-soaked modern world. When a city celebrates its Olympics one day and counts its dead the next. How rapidly the cheers can turn to explosions, and then screams, and then sirens. London stood proudly alone Wednesday, the newest host of the Games. A winner for all the globe to see. Happily facing the prospects of seven chaotic years of planning and spending and work, for an event that claims itself a messenger of peace.
As the television showed the dazed survivors walking away, the thought that came to mind was that London didn't seem so alone, after all. Because it is a curious thing about most of the cities that fought so hard for the 2012 Olympics. London, New York, Madrid, Moscow. A brotherhood of hopefuls. And recent terror targets. All have known days like Thursday. The images. The shock. The debris. The bodies. The vows to move on and persevere.
The suspicion seems to be that this attack was set to coincide with the opening of the G-8 summit. The Olympics might have just been a bonus for the bombers. Ghastly timing, turning a city's joy into horror literally overnight. A sudden jerk in destiny, a nosedive from elation to mourning, that even added to the shock and trauma.
My last visit to London was about 5 years ago and now, some of the places I visited could have been affected. The explosion had ripped apart at least one double-decker and caused officials to close and evacuate the entire subway system.
Terrorist or not terrorist attack, this incident must not happen in the first place.
I guess there will be silence for a while, in terms of the Olympics. Then the long ride to the London Games will recommence. And when the organizers talk about spending more on security - more troops, more dogs, more weapons - everyone will nod and say yes.
And one day in 2012, when the flame is about to be lit in London, I hope I would be able to tell Erja what happened back in 2005.
07.07 is another date to be remembered.
As the television showed the dazed survivors walking away, the thought that came to mind was that London didn't seem so alone, after all. Because it is a curious thing about most of the cities that fought so hard for the 2012 Olympics. London, New York, Madrid, Moscow. A brotherhood of hopefuls. And recent terror targets. All have known days like Thursday. The images. The shock. The debris. The bodies. The vows to move on and persevere.
The suspicion seems to be that this attack was set to coincide with the opening of the G-8 summit. The Olympics might have just been a bonus for the bombers. Ghastly timing, turning a city's joy into horror literally overnight. A sudden jerk in destiny, a nosedive from elation to mourning, that even added to the shock and trauma.
My last visit to London was about 5 years ago and now, some of the places I visited could have been affected. The explosion had ripped apart at least one double-decker and caused officials to close and evacuate the entire subway system.
Terrorist or not terrorist attack, this incident must not happen in the first place.
I guess there will be silence for a while, in terms of the Olympics. Then the long ride to the London Games will recommence. And when the organizers talk about spending more on security - more troops, more dogs, more weapons - everyone will nod and say yes.
And one day in 2012, when the flame is about to be lit in London, I hope I would be able to tell Erja what happened back in 2005.
07.07 is another date to be remembered.
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