I am concerned, I was concerned before the atrocities in Paris but I think they cemented my unease. We all accept the world is dangerous, every time we drive a car or cross a road there is an element of danger. For most of us however, a meal out on a Friday night does not represent one of the riskiest things you can do. But for those who were out yesterday in those unfortunate venues they became dangerous and deadly. Trying to explain what happened to an 11,9 and 7 year old before they saw or heard anything about it was difficult.
Hoops was thoughtful and said little, Imp went into panic mode, he is already convinced that IS are coming here and Pixie burst into tears. She, like many of us cannot understand how any religious belief or any God could condone such horrific actions. Out of the mouths of babes they say, and for sure her take on it is that; these people just want to hurt people who are not like them. Why? Imp doesn’t want to go out, in his opinion staying in = staying safe!
But for the first time it made me really think about my own actions and plans. When the bombings happened in London and the Blitz spirit kicked in I was determined to carry on as usual. For the very first time however yesterday I considered not going to something and not doing something. Next week I am due to make a visit to the O2 for my favourite thing – ATP tennis! I want to go but it made me think – maybe I should just stay at home and watch in on the TV. If the terrorists can get to the national stadium in France why not the O2 or Wembley? We are due to go the theatre a couple of times – what if the theatres are targeted or the underground stations or the restaurant we choose beforehand.
Then I felt ashamed and angry. There is a risk in everything, what if the train stops and gets stuck in a tunnel, what if I fall over on the way to the seat the O2 is steep after all, what if… But one thing that is clear is this – if I don’t go to the tennis or the theatre or shopping and nothing happens I will feel ridiculous. Yes, atrocities have been carried out and I am convinced that more are planned for a variety of places as IS (who have claimed responsibility) have apparently stepped up their terror campaign. However, no-one knows where or when they will strike next and that is what inspires the culture of fear. Of course there will be more cells, of course there will be more attempts for mass casualty events of innocent people – they create publicity, column inches but hopefully they also bring most of humanity together. Look at social media turning into the French colours, look at those coming together to pray, look at people carrying on. Yes there is risk, maybe a little more than before -maybe not – we have to trust to the security forces and let them do their thing. Giving in however cannot be an option, not going to tennis, the theatre, the restaurants, staying in ensures we won’t be victims of terrorism in the physical sense of the word. In the psychological sense of the word not doing these things makes us all victims. Staying in, being scared are all real feelings, I’m scared, I hate the world my children are growing up in and the way they are scared to go to big cities in case there are people with guns. But not doing these things gives the terorrists what they want. It changes us and the way we live if we stay in!
Not going out shows we’re scared, cancelling events shows we’re scared, that the risk of something happening is scarier than trying to carry on and stage events. I received an e-mail from the O2 reassuring me that the tennis events were going ahead but to expect extra queues to get in, that’s fine. I’m sure I’ll moan(sorry!) when I’m standing in the queue but I’ll remember (later) that they are keeping me safe. We can be sure that there will be more security scares and evacuations than usual as we all become hyper-vigilant but remember – you are living your life. Yes there is a risk, and we all hope there are no similar attacks to the ones Paris has experienced but worrying about it, avoiding events won’t stop them happening (if they do!) but missing out will definitely impoverish your life, stop you doing what you want to do. Standing with Paris means carrying on as best we can. I’m angry too, angry with myself for considering changing my plans. I really hope nothing happens anywhere else, but if it does I hope we can show the same bravery in carrying on because by giving in we lose anyway. In the meantime I trust to the governments that the world has elected to decide what to do on an international scale. I hope that those who are thinking of committing similar atrocities come to their senses and that someday the world will become once more something I am glad the kids are in rather than worrying that by the time they are my age it will be a war zone.
