tea and hope

[chelidon]

As several of my U.K. friends, including snakey and ravenedgewalker pointed out earlier today, the British response to extreme crisis, tragedy, and mayhem is to pour a nice cup of tea. Instead of, say, going on an ill-advised campaign of regional military conquest, or setting up a network of secret, unaccountable prisons into which you indefinitely throw anyone you think might perhaps be a terrorist. Proof once again that the British are considerably more civilized than we Yanks. I mean, there is certainly no love lost between the English and the French, but you don't see the English going around renaming it "Freedom kissing." Well, okay, in the case of many in the U.K., that would perhaps more properly be "Freedom slight nod of the head and an unobtrusive clearing of the throat." Still, the point is made.

Of course, the English nation has been through all of this before, and come out on the other side with some wisdom borne of adversity, and little further yen for world Empire. Been there, done that, made Indian people weave the T-shirt, lost the Empire, went home to have a nice cup of tea. Now there are probably more Indian and Pakistani people in England than there were ever English people in India, perhaps a subtle proof of the concept of karma. May we Yanks similarly learn the wisdom of perspective, and tea. Soon.

Now, following the wisdom of my friends across the pond, I shall sit and have a nice cup of Earl Grey and a couple of Hob Nobs. Take that, terrorists.

Comments

[idragosani.livejournal.com]

Not to trivialize what happened, but I daresay more people got killed in the past 6 months in this country by drivers distracted while talking on cellphones than were killed in London today. There are probably old fellows in London who still remember the German bombs hitting Londin in WWII and are probably shrugging off today with, as you say, a cup of good hot tea.

A friend in the UK told me today that the Londoners are taking the situation quite calmly. After all, to many folks there, this probably isn't any different than what happened at the height of Irish terrorism.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Precisely.

A calm and measured reaction, utterly unlike, at the risk of being accused of insensitivity, our reaction to 9/11. As terrible as 9/11 was for those who lost family or friends, it was primarily a psychological blow. Yes, there was damage, and loss of life. But the real damage was to our sense of invulnerability. And so, in a gross overreaction, we went to "war." A "war" packaged and sold by those who had an extremely vested interest in being a "war president" and a "war administration," over a "country at war," with the extraordinary powers often given to the Executive Branch by Congress and the courts only in times of "war." A "war," I note, with no specific enemy, no particular timeline, and no clear goal or conditions for victory. In other words, an Orwellian state of perpetual "war," our entire nation kept fearful and reactive and willing to give up many of the freedoms we hold dear, all because we are at "war."

Yes, terrorists exist. And yes, they are capable of doing terrible things. But the cost, in terms of human lives, freedoms and liberties lost, vast funds of money spent on "defense" that could, and should, go to education, creating jobs, finding and funding alternative sources of energy before we get into a hyperinflationary economic meltdown because of our increasing dependence on increasingly expensive oil...the cost is too high. And the "war" is distracting us from fighting the really serious threats to our country.

Yes, terrorism is real. Yes, we must fight it. But Bush's "war on terrorism" is just as much a wasteful sham, and just as unlikely to be successful as the similarly il-defined but politically useful "war on drugs."

Do not trust leaders whose best interest is served by keeping the people in perpetual fear, in a perpetual state of so-called "war." If you let them lead, you will always be at "war."

[idragosani.livejournal.com]

Yer preachin' to the choir, Bro!

[a-valan-che.livejournal.com]

no specific enemy

Oh, we know who the enemy is, we just won't attack Saudi Arabia for fear of the repercussions.

But the real damage was to our sense of invulnerability.

Yes, it was a real wake up call to all the people sitting in their government offices ignoring the signs of something eminent and not communicating for fear of tarnishing their own laurels. Not unlike how local police want glory and don't work with the FBI whenever possible.

Do not trust leaders whose best interest is served by keeping the people in perpetual fear,

I think he's merely backed himself into a snafu that he's not sure how to get out of. My prediction is that we'll continue to be "at war" until Bush's term is over in 2008. As soon as the power of the Presidency is handed over, his successor will pull our troops out... then we're really in trouble because, without the threat of our presence, the terrorist cells already in place in the US will activate.

PS Make mine Darjeeling. Cheers!

[christeos-pir.livejournal.com]

> the British response to extreme crisis, tragedy, and mayhem is to pour a nice cup of tea.

Boy, that'll learn 'em.

"Stop! Or I'll say 'Stop' again!" - Robin Williams

[idragosani.livejournal.com]

"Stop, I say, or I shall become quite cross!"

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

walll, now, all funnin' aside, note that's the calm and measured reaction of the average citizen, who perhaps has the perspective to realize that they're far more likely to slip and break their neck in the tub than die on the bus tomorrow (and as always, I'm sure there's a complete range out there, from frenzied to comatose). I note that there is an intensive manhunt on, and I also suspect some changes will be made to Underground security, something not foreign to the residents, who have, as others have pointed out, seen plenty of bombs before. Yes, it's a very bad thing, a horrible tragedy that demands an appropriate response.

But I figure it's unlikely the Brits will react by invading, say, Jordan. Thus, my point.

[christeos-pir.livejournal.com]

Not much left of Jordan from what I hear. Thanks to the various factions there, not the Franks, I hasten to point out.

But shirley you don't think anyone in this country would take advantage of these kinds of attacks as an excuse to further their own agendas, line their own pockets, and give themselves even more Big Brotherly control over our own country? *blinkblink*

[miriams-well.livejournal.com]

Not much left of Jordan from what I hear.

:: is completely baffled ::

[christeos-pir.livejournal.com]

Is that a way of saying, "You heard wrong" ...?

I believe I was thinking of Lebanon, not Jordan. My apologies.

[miriams-well.livejournal.com]

It's a way of saying maybe you know something I don't.

When I lived there Jordan was clearly a third world country with a vast divide between the upper classes (mostly around Amman) and the majority (both in Amman and the rest of the country) but there was plenty left of it and not a huge amount of chaos. For a king, Abdullah seems better intentioned than most in his position and the Hashemite kingdom seems genuinely loved beyond that fear factor that springs up under that type of government.

Even having lived in the far, and poor, boonies I would say there was plenty left of Jordan. And since leaving Jordan five years ago I've heard nothing to change that opinion, despite the complete chaos on all sides. Compared to most of their neighbors Jordan seems amazingly stable which I've long wondered at.

So, again, perhaps you're aware of something I'm not, or perhaps you really were thinking of Lebanon, who seem to be tiring of their puppet government and going through some messy transitions because of this.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Do you two know each other? If not, consider this an introduction, you'll be neighbors soon -- Christeos and his lovely partner are moving to Austin, and they're good people. I suspect you have a number of interests in common, such as Thelema and QBL, and perhaps common friends/acquaintances, such as Content.

BTW, Chris, check out the new weekend sale on Southwest.com -- lots of cheap flights out of BWI, including $29 each way to/from Manchester... I know you're very busy pre-move, but you're welcome to fly up and take a weekend off in the nice cool woods (it is 65 degrees here at the moment....) Besides, that way I have the good excuse of reciprocity to come visit ya in a couple of months! ;>

[miriams-well.livejournal.com]

Yippee! More cool ppl in Austin is always a goodness, and no we didn't before now.

[phryday.livejournal.com]

it was a brit who eloquently penned the two most important words in the english language and created the phrase:

"don't panic"

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Indeed. I completely worship the ground Mssr. Adams walks on, er, well, under. *sigh*

[snakey.livejournal.com]

A large part of the reaction is actually annoyance that this time we can't blame the French. It just seems unfair, somehow. Blaming them has been good enough for a thousand years, why stop now? ::grin::

[http://users.livejournal.com/faerose_/]

i looooooove your icon - ooo that made me laugh soo hard.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

*lol* Perhaps it will turn out the terrorists were driving Peugeots. Should be close enough.

Oh Wow!

[mab-of-dream.livejournal.com]

I love your icon! That is really amazing.

As a Briton, please could I beg a copy to have as my computer's wallpaper?

[coraljune.livejournal.com]

going on an ill-advised campaign of regional military conquest, or setting up a network of secret, unaccountable prisons

What, you mean this isn't the best way? Our president seems to think so, and surely he must be a wise man - neurotic, insecure attempts at fatherly approval, precariously constructed psychological rigidity, and all.
Gosh, I couldn't even get through that with a straight face. ;>

Oh and hey - snakey, LOVE that icon!

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Our president seems to think so, and surely he must be a wise man

Brittany Spears thinks so...good enough for me!

[snakey.livejournal.com]

A woman of sound opinions, if you ask me.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Indeed, and the sound is "ba-a-a-a-a-a."

A Nice Cup of Tea.

[mab-of-dream.livejournal.com]

Thing is, the way I look at it, the second we start panicking and running around like headless chickens, we all become terrorists to ourselves. The job of the terrorist is to cause terror; if you allow yourself to feel terrified, then you have co-operated, aided and abetted. That makes you your own personal terrorist.

Ok, slightly different to blowing up a train, but nontheless, you have caused terror in yourself.

Could you make mine a Fair Trade Earl Grey please?

Re: A Nice Cup of Tea.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

I agree completely -- if we allow ourselves to be terrified, if we allow ourselves to react from and be ruled by fear, the terrorists can claim a victory. What is particularly reprehensible is when our supposed leadership fans the flames of fear for political gain, thereby aiding the terrorist cause.

It sounds like we share taste in tea. Earl Grey it is! :>