United Kingdom - a country under a cloud

For the last several months, all we have been hearing is bad news - bad news of the worst kind. First, there were the Manchester attacks, then the London Bridge attack, then the Grenfell Building fire, and now, an attack on London on innocent Muslims by a white man who muttered that he wanted to kill all Muslims.

Whatever is happening? I think there are rumours working overtime. Before the elections, I heard an Englishman say that the attack just before the elections at London Bridge was orchestrated by the sitting PM herself to garner more votes in the name of shock. After the elections, someone else said that the attacks were orchestrated by Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party. This confusion makes me realise that both contentions are wrong and that all these attacks are as proclaimed - either terrorist attacks or a grossly unfortunate accident (the building fire) or simply bad racism (the attack outside the mosque). 

I am certain more bad times are to follow. Economically, the UK is going through a bad patch as well. Brexit negotiations have begun today and the UK will have to give in on many issues, thanks to the lack of a clear parliamentary majority by Theresa May's Conservative (Tory) party.

Nothing much to add here. A reflection on the troublesome days is much in order.

#LondonAttacks

Once again, extremism has raised its ugly head and wiped away 7 lives, destroyed the hopes and aspirations of all those connected to them - and injured almost 50 others, at least a dozen of them critically. 

Three men, travelling in a large vehicle, first rammed this into a crowd of innocent pedestrians atop the London Bridge, then took the vehicle into a market area and, parking it, got off the vehicle and began to run around, randomly knifing people going about their usual lives. Within 8 minutes of the police receiving news of the attack, they were killed in an intense round of police fire. They were found to be wearing what seemed to be jackets rigged with explosives. However, the tin cans attached to their jackets proved to be fake ones. 

As I write this, the police investigation is ongoing. Patients are admitted to five hospitals in the vicinity, among them the King's College and the Guys and Thomas' Hospitals. Nearly a dozen of the injured victims are critical, while the rest are recuperating. 

Among those dead is a Canadian citizen, a New Zealander and two Frenchmen. 

A quick thought: this is the third attack by terrorists in three months in the U.K. The last attack was just 12 days ago in the Manchester Arena. What is happening? 

I was talking to a British lady today while walking in Stanley Park. We agreed that Britain was reaping the effects of what it was sowing all over the world, blindly following the United States of America. The picture of Theresa May being led by the hand by President Trump symbolises this more than anything else. 

May and Trump (click this link)

If only the U.K. government stops meddling in the affairs of the various countries it is engaged with, Islamic extremism will stop attacking it - at least this is my opinion. It has become almost impossible for terrorists to attack the U.S.A. That is why, they are now targetting the softer option - the United Kingdom. This is a war, and the U.K. should start protecting itself rather than try to "restore" peace, democracy etc. in other countries. 

The lady I was talking to is an ex-journalist who was shooting birds with her Canon camera. We both felt that the people of U.K. are becoming increasingly frustrated with the way things are going. Racism is making a comeback, she said. While she was putting this down to politics, I felt that people were basically relinquishing common sense and attacking anyone not their own without understanding that without immigrants, the U.K. would be finished as a world power. 

Back to the attacks: there will be a general election in the next four days' time. The Tories may well continue to be in power, and May will then have the power to negotiate hard with the European countries to retain its value in a post-Brexit world the way she wants to. Or, as a dark horse, the Labour Party may win and Jeremy Corbyn will be swept into power as the new Prime Minister.

Only time will tell - within a week, we will know the outcome.

The election comes at a time when the people will still be reflecting on the London Attacks. May the souls of those who died rest in Peace. Amen.

#ManchesterAttacks

On the night of the 22nd of this month, Ariana conducted a music concert at the Manchester Arena. Everything went well until the very end. She had done an encore and had exited the stage. People  - a lot of them youngsters and even children - were beginning to leave the venue when a large explosion occurred just outside the arena near the ticketing window. Set off by a man who died in the explosion himself, and subsequently identified as Salman Abedi - a native Mancunian who acted most likely on behalf of ISIS - this explosion killed 22 people, many of them children, and caused injuries in another 59, some of them critically injured - and changed the threat perception of the UK from level 4 to level 5 (critical).

This event is now officially the most sinister terrorist attack on Manchester, the third largest city in the U.K. Unlike other major cities, Manchester is one of the most diverse cities in the U.K. with people from different parts of the world and all the various religions of the world assimilating together for the common good. To have such a dastardly attack that shook the entire country was indeed very shocking and unbelievable. 

The country is on the cusp of a general election in less than 15 days, and yet, everyone is in no mood for electioneering or campaigning at this point of time.

The city has moved on, but the event shall linger on in the minds of every person in the city, in the country and, dare I say, in the world. 

May the souls of the dead rest in peace, and may quick recovery occur among those who are still under treatment. Amen.