So the turbaned cowards of Al Queida have managed to detonate a few bombs in London.
An Outrage, not a Tragedy.
Tragedy is what befalls people in a natural calamity. Or, in an industrial accident. Tragedy is losing your elderly Aunt Susie to a fatal slip and fall.
No, today's bombings in London are an Outrage, and nothing less. But as with the United States post 9/11/01, I'd wager on the Brits having more than the expected bit of resolve.
They've been through this before, and much, much worse.
The London Blitz, as carried out by the German Luftwaffe.
The first German raids on British cities had already taken place by the end of August 1940, when Birmingham and Liverpool were attacked, but on 7 September the Blitz intensified when around 950 German aircraft attacked London. It was the first and last mass daylight raid on London, but it heralded the first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing.
The daylight raid alone caused some 300 civilian deaths and a further 1,300 serious injuries; by the end of the Blitz, around 30,000 Londoners would be left dead, with another 50,000 injured. Fortunately, millions of children, mothers, patients and pensioners had already been evacuated to the countryside.
A sane adversary might have considered Britain's history before setting off a half-dozen bombs in the heart of London.
But the mutual adversaries shared by Britain and the United States are most clearly insane, as evidenced by their every act, every pronouncement and every repitition of their failed tactics and stragegies.
Very simply, we shall kill more of them then they will, us.
From the speech given by Sir Winston Churchill on June 4, 1940, to the House of Commons.
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old. (emphasis, mine)
It was not part of their blood,
It came to them very late
With long arrears to make good,
When the English began to hate.They were not easily moved,
They were icy-willing to wait
Till every count should be proved,
Ere the English began to hate.Their voices were even and low,
Their eyes were level and straight.
There was neither sign nor show,
When the English began to hate.It was not preached to the crowd,
It was not taught by the state.
No man spoke it aloud,
When the English began to hate.It was not suddenly bred,
It will not switftly abate,
Through the chill years ahead,
When Time shall count from the date
That the English began to hate.- Kipling 1914
From the same Churchill speech referenced above, this passage preceeds the more famous quote by several paragraphs, but is no less imporant. Especially in light of Kipling's poem.
We have found it necessary to take measures of increasing stringency, not only against enemy aliens and suspicious characters of other nationalities, but also against British subjects who may become a danger or a nuisance should the war be transported to the United Kingdom. I know there are a great many people affected by the orders which we have made who are the passionate enemies of Nazi Germany. I am very sorry for them, but we cannot, at the present time and under the present stress, draw all the distinctions which we should like to do. If parachute landings were attempted and fierce fighting attendant upon them followed, these unfortunate people would be far better out of the way, for their own sakes as well as for ours. There is, however, another class, for which I feel not the slightest sympathy. Parliament has given us the powers to put down Fifth Column activities with a strong hand, and we shall use those powers subject to the supervision and correction of the House, without the slightest hesitation until we are satisfied, and more than satisfied, that this malignancy in our midst has been effectively stamped out.
We, and Britain, must need take these words to heart, now. Later may indeed be too late.
If Britain will find the same resolve as she mustered in the 1940's, I've no doubt that the scourge of Islamic terror will fail there, just as did Goering's Luftwaffe. But if the present burden of political correctness cannot be shed, should Britain forfeit her history, her heritage....her spine, then but a few more blasts remain before England, too, follows Spain into the dark pages of a people lost, a Nation forfeit and a false, shallow peace bought at the price of a new Dark Age of dhimmitude.
Today's attacks are indeed an Outrage. What would be the Tragedy is for Britain to not find her Churchill in this, her new and darkest hour.
Thank you for pointing out the difference in this excellent piece, Jim. This is exactly the sentiment hubby and I had after 9/11.
"Tragedy". That's all anyone in the media would call it and are still calling it. Bull hockey.
Posted by: MoK | July 09, 2005 at 02:47 PM
I remember on 9/11 hearing a newsreader on tv saying something-again- about 'terror striking into the hearts of America' and I started yelling "What about the PISSED OFF struck into the hearts of America?!?" I hope the Brits overall are truly pissed off and remember where they came from. But I wonder. Because,among other things, Capt. Quarters linked to an article about how the push for ID cards got a boost from the bombings.
ID cards. Known terrorists living on the dole, people forbidden to protect themselves, and they're pushing ID cards as a fix.
Posted by: Mark | July 09, 2005 at 03:48 PM
Like Fran, I wonder if we as a nation, as a civilization, still have the ability to not go quietly, but "Rage, rage, against the dying of the light" But with all the political correctness, spin, and flat out lack of balls by so many on the West....is it too little too late?
Posted by: Guy S. | July 09, 2005 at 05:20 PM
I don't know about Pissed off, but the song that is going through my head 24/7 since Thursday is this:
http://misty69stuff.blogspot.com/2004/11/i-had-to-put-this-up-today.html
I was totally agreeing with almost all of all the posts I'd read with the word 'cowardly' in them btw - until I read this one:
http://www.strangeblueghost.blogspot.com/
No disrespect at all who have used the word 'cowardly'at all, but it seriously made me think about using it again...
Meh, just me being tired maybe, but then I think I have a right to be now...
Posted by: Misty | July 09, 2005 at 09:29 PM
Very good post.
Posted by: Key | July 11, 2005 at 05:29 PM
As a conservative, I'm no fan of Churchill, but this it an excellently presented blog entry.
I might use the word "atrocity" for an act as heinous as last Thursday's. But in reality, no words can accurately described what happened last week.
Posted by: Aakash | July 13, 2005 at 05:45 PM