Rather than the usual Friday ‘I miss… I’m thankful’ post, I decided this week to reflect on current issues including the General Election and terrorism in the UK. Don’t worry, I’ll try not to get too deep & dreary!
Trying times
It’s fair to say that the past few weeks have been rather tumultuous here in the UK. Election fever has reached its peak as we edge ever closer to the public vote, to be held on June 8th. It’s very much a two-horse race with Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn facing off against Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May.
Now I don’t want to delve into party politics or voice my own predilection. While I do think it’s important that everyone who can vote does so, I don’t feel it necessary to impart my views or those of any other. At the end of the day, we are all individuals with diverse circumstances and priorities. Therefore, I haven’t and won’t be publically advocating any particular party. It is for you to decide who to vote for. All I will say is, please ensure you do make time to cast your vote. After all, people died to allow us the right to have our say. And frankly, if you don’t vote, you really can’t complain.
Manchester
Late last Monday, 22nd May, a terrorist attack occurred at the Manchester Arena. A 22-year-old suicide bomber took the lives of 22 individuals, including children. 116 others were injured, some critically.
This follows the recent incident in London’s Westminster, when on 22nd March, 4 were killed and 50 more injured by a lone assailant.
Such events are sadly becoming more commonplace in the UK, and we are increasingly told to remain vigilant.
It’s a distressing prospect which affects us all, whether directly involved or not. I was in utter disbelief on hearing of the Manchester bombing, particularly because it took place at a Pop concert and targeted children. What goes through the mind of the person who carried out such a horrific and devastating act is just inconceivable.
The future generation
I am soon to be an aunt, and so the impact on me was greater for this reason. I wonder, in what kind of environment will my new niece or nephew grow up? Will they learn to accept terrorism as the norm? Will they one day be targeted?
We see it on the News every day: ISIS-led atrocities in Iraq and Syria, militant barbarism, explosions, executions and so on. We associate this with the Middle East, not with the Western world and definitely not with us. Not you and me.
But the sad truth is, we are involved, we are a target, and we are fighting a war with terrorism. But what I am thankful for and proud of, is the way in which we respond to attacks made against us.
Stand together, united
Any attack against our nation is an attack against us as individuals and against our freedom. It is personal. We all feel it. As a result, we all pull together in trying times.
Reports of the tireless work of emergency service staff, the charity of taxi drivers, help from the homeless and those from afar offering aid on their day off work. These heart-warming stories unite us. People from all walks of life join forces to repair and rebuild. This is something that the terrorists can never take from us. We are strong and defiant and we refuse to live in fear.
I’m thankful
So, in-keeping with my usual Friday themed posts, I’d like to conclude by saying that I am thankful to be living in the UK. I am thankful to be living in a diverse yet united nation. I am thankful that here in England I do not live every day in fear or peril, unlike many unfortunate people in the world. I am thankful for the strength, courage, pride and positivity of Britons. Furthermore, I am thankful for the emergency services and for the NHS. Truly, where would we be without them?!