Would any British BD-ers like to check in?

[Mithalwen]

I think that there is a feeling that if we panic we increase what ever sense of triumph these people have. Ditto if we start to suspect our citizens who happen to have their origins in arabic countries. As the name suggests, terror is their weapon, if we aren't terrified they don't win.

The memories of the Blitz do live on even if second hand. I grew up on my grandmother's horrifice tales of nursing though the Coventry Blitz and my father saying how they would return to school after a raid to find more empty desks...
We are sometimes accused of being a cold people - we aren't - but I think there is a capacity to get on with practical things and save the tears for later.....

On a practical level - I would mention that we must assume that this kind of thing may happen again, and I for one will be making an effort to give blood at the earliest opportunity. Blood stocks are often dangerously low and so I would encourage anyone eligible to think about becoming a donor. I was a regular donor as a student but I am sorry to say I have let it lapse. It doesn't take long and really doesn't hurt. I hope there won't be another terrorist attack but giving an armful will definitely help someone.


Similarly, I plan to update my First Aid Cert....

[davem]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

We are sometimes accused of being a cold people - we aren't - but I think there is a capacity to get on with practical things and save the tears for later....

Can I just add that I'm glad that (so far) we haven't had the kind of embarrassing nonsense that followed in the wake of Diana's death - its not 'us' somehow to react in that way. I don't think its that we've grown 'used' to that kind of thing, just that we have our own way of dealing with such things - we feel things but don't have to shout our feeling sfrom the rooftops. Bb's point about the stoicism of Sam & Frodo is perhaps relevant. I'm also reminded of the difference between Theoden's reaction to the death of his son in the books as opposed to the movie. There seemed to be a need in the movie to have Theoden break down in tears in order to show his feelings. I think his grief was shown in the books much more subtly through his actions, which is the way we tend to do it..

(my attempt to keep this 'Tolkien'..... )

[Lalaith]

Davem, I agree with you totally about the film having a certain emotional incontinence which I felt was at odds with the phlegmatic tone of the books (although there are in fact a surprising amount of men weeping in Tolkien...)
but I don't think it's fair to call the reaction to Diana's death "embarrassing nonsense" ...the media reaction, yes, but from what I could see, the ordinary public were actually as restrained and dignified as they paid their respects, at the funeral and elsewhere, as they are being at the moment.

Oh, and I do want to say, with regard to the title of this thread (with the greatest respect to Lush who so kindly and thoughtfully started it) that British and Londoner are not the same thing. One of the most interesting things about this great city is that a very large proportion of people who live here are proud to call themselves Londoners without being British. A point that I wouldn't normally bother bringing up, but it's important right now.

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

I'd like to add my voice to those thanking Metod for the safety of our London wights. It's good to hear a relatively full chorus from that quarter.

Thanks to Bêthberry for both pointing out to me that there were questions about my own safety and posting on my behalf when my account played me false.

[Mister Underhill]

Nice to see you Dr. Squatter, my old colleague -- both alive and well, and posting at the Downs.

[wilwarin538]

Its good to see that all our Londeners are OK. I have some cousins in London, luckly they weren't in the area at the time. Its scary how quickly we can lose someone we care about.

May I ask what the Crystal Heart incident is??? It must have happened before I joined.

Again, Im glad everyone is ok.

Wilwa

[Mithadan]

Although he did not post here, Rimbaud has checked in and is still breathing.