Solidarity in the face of terror.
Sometimes we come under attack, but we survive when we come together. We survive when we work together to pick ourselves up and keep going. When panic and fear takes over, we lose. That's not to say we shouldn't take precautions. In the blitz we had blackouts and air raid shelters. Protecting ourselves is different to panicking. Today we need to be vigilant and aware of police guidance. We need to know how to respond when we are under attack, rather than re-actively pouring further hate on an entire section of our community. We need to stand together rather than fall apart.
Undaunted in the wake of attack.
In the wake of an attack, how communities react gives a clearer picture of the success of terrorism than sensationalised headlines. It's a very British thing to sit amongst catastrophe and say 'well this is jolly inconvenient, let's have a cup of tea'. The point isn't that a cup of tea makes everything better. The point is that the act of making tea for a distraught friend or group of people says 'we're here for you' and 'you can survive'. It's a very British way of pulling ourselves together and being able to face our troubles.
We might not all drink tea these days. Some might prefer a glass of diet coke, a coffee, or even a beer, but the point is that we come together. In the wake of both the Manchester and London attacks people offered their sofas and spare rooms to those caught up in the chaos. Taxi drivers offered free lifts. People came together, welcoming those in need and offering comfort in the face of terror, and that is a wonderful thing to see, especially as that coming together transcended race or religion.
Hopeful of a peaceful future.
Sometimes children get caught up in attacks. The deaths of children is abhorrent and those who attack children should be wholeheartedly condemned. However, children are also sponges. If adults show fear or panic, then children will know fear and panic. If we say Muslims are to blame, they will go to school and bully Muslim classmates. We need to lead by example. Sensationalising the news breeds fear both for us and the generations behind us, and fear allows anger and hatred to spread, leading to further extremism on all sides. We need to express friendship, hope, solidarity, so that we remember the world is, on the whole, a better place than it seems to be by reading the news or the hate speech of certain columnists. We need to condemn only those responsible, without using race and religion to profile our neighbours. We can't defeat terror by being terrified into terrorising others.
This image particularly gets to me as it is of Newcastle, the city I lived in during my first year of university. It's my nearest city to this day. As the grand-daughter of a Polish-Ukrainian displaced person, this upsets me.
United, we can remain unconquered.
Our way of life has endured worse. During WW2 we welcomed refugees. We welcomed German Jews (I used to work for the son of a German Jewish couple). We welcomed the Polish, some of whom became RAF pilots and helped defend Britain. We don't survive by closing our borders and spreading fear. We survive by making people feel safe and welcomed so that we all share values and a love for this country. Yes, there will always be some individuals who revel in making others suffer, but they are not the majority and there is nothing to be gained by spreading fear, causing anger, and giving voice to further hated.
Just look at our response to the Manchester attack. Just a day after the London attacks, and in the wake of the arena bombing, Manchester held an even bigger concert raising funds for the victims and bringing people together in the most spectacular way. Not cowed. Not fearful. But celebrating the wonder of community.
We will endure. We always do.
Sometimes attacked. Never terrorised.
Love,
Carmine Raven
