Moment of Silence for Victims of London Bombings

London held a moment of silence to remember the victims that were killed in the subway attack at Kings Cross in London last Thursday. The four suicide bombers who took the lives of more than 50 people were identified as citizens of Britain, a shocking attack indicating that terrorism can happen anywhere, and that the enemy is with us and that we are the enemies.

A friend of mine has a cousin who lives in London and was going to work that day via the subway. She got off like any other day and only found out later that if she had waited two cars later she would not be alive.

It should not be surprising that terrorists don't have to be foreign fundamental extremist Muslims, although the news does seem repetitively depressing. In this case they were mostly impressionable youth who lived normal British lives. They played cricket, or were fathers or teachers. Although they attended school in Pakistan and were Muslim does not mean they represent the majority of Muslims or Pakistanis. They played sports and integrated like normal British citizens. We are asked to stand in solidarity and resist the temptation to condemn a religion, a race, or a socioeconomic category for this terrible act. The British seem strong in insisting they will not be broken, and I believe that if there is going to be change, it won't be because of terrorism. It is individuals who decide for themselves the rationale or anti-rationale for killing themselves and taking many with them. It is up to you to decide whether you will react, or be proactive in the way you live on a daily basis.

Hate tends to breed hate, but people have it in them to reverse the cycle. Be original.