A Letter To London, Chicago Tribune Editorial

Barmy Army · Jul 9, 2005

Remove all ads!

To the people of London:

The battle against global terrorism that conjoins our nations on so many fronts has long been, in our belief, a fight to the death. It is all the more so as Friday dawns. We are profoundly sorry that you, who have given so much, so often, to this battle, now should shed more blood.

You have our compassion. You have our continued resolve. And as that battle rages, perhaps longer than many of us will live, you have our commitment: No appeasement, no retreat.

But we do observe, with uncharacteristic humility, that you need no advice on how to cope, certainly not from your excitable American cousins.

Instead, it is we who can learn much from you.

Even as Thursday's carnage filled our screens, we saw the calm fortitude of your prime minister, Tony Blair, as he spoke important words—yes, from the G-8 leaders gathered in Scotland, but also from his heart: "Today's bombings will not weaken in any way our resolve to uphold the most deeply held principles of our societies, and to defeat those who would impose their fanaticism and extremism on all of us. We shall prevail and they shall not."

As Blair spoke we thought we heard, from one of memory's cobwebbed corners, the distant, gruffer voice of his predecessor, Winston Churchill, speaking via the BBC on July 14, 1940. The peoples of Europe would not be subjugated, he pledged, by Hitler's gospel of hatred, appetite and domination: "Should the invader come to Britain, there will be no placid lying down of the people in submission before him, as we have seen, alas, in other countries. … [W]e would rather see London laid in ruins and ashes than that it should be tamely and abjectly enslaved."

Our own experience with global terrorism on the home front is limited to a single horrific morning in 2001. We have no concept whatsoever of the Blitz that Churchill's words foretold—of bombers by the hundreds blackening your skies night after night for months on end, of loved ones torn from your families by the tens of thousands.

The goal then was to drive you from World War II—as perhaps the goal Thursday was to shake your commitment to exterminating as many of the nihilists as you can.

The Blitz did not break you. Hitler failed, as surely as Thursday's far less frightful, less lethally equipped, band of killers will fail. We have seen, admired, the stoicism in your DNA.

We know, though, that there are those in many lands who yearn to shrink from this battle, as if there is some safe place for nations to hide from zealots who see democracy, economic liberation and civil rights for women as mortal threats to their agenda: hatred, appetite and domination.

There is not. London, like New York and Washington and Madrid, is a citadel of the West. To ply their murder spree, Thursday's terrorists walked free in your midst, enjoying the openness, the liberties, of your society.

They will do so again, on your streets or ours. They will see transportation arteries for what they are: the lifelines that make our cities, our peoples, both prosperous and vulnerable.

As you move beyond this moment, we will watch and learn, knowing that the today we glimpse may well be the tomorrow for which we must prepare.

We also will know that no matter how long this battle lasts, no matter how many honorable nations join in this fight, one ally will be there at the end, secure that defeat was never an option.

We think we'll be there too. And we will be, provided we never forget what a Churchill contemporary -- you remember FDR -- said about the only thing we have to fear.
Click to expand...

Harbourboy · Jul 9, 2005

And what is your opinion on this, Barmy?

I note that there is going to be a minute's silence before the Lions test this evening as well.

Barmy Army · Jul 9, 2005

I think it is an excellent article, and it shows the special bond that both countries have, and no other two countries in the world share .

Harbourboy · Jul 9, 2005

Aw, so there's no special bond between England and New Zealand? At least we've never gone to war against you like the Americans did. That's it, time to get rid of that Union Jack from our flag!

Nakia · Jul 9, 2005

Come on HB, when a daughter country goes and rebels against a mother country and at some point down the line they get friendly that is a special bond they share that no one else shares.

NZ is still a member of the family, the USA is at best a distant cousin.

(We did keep the colors.)

It is a good article and I am sad about what happened.

Barmy Army · Jul 9, 2005

New Zealand is a colony, Harbs. Never really anything worth worrying about. Except in the rugby, like.
The US was a colony who supplied good soldiers to our cause. Then they realised they could actually do things without our guidance. With a little - Frog aided - war, they claimed a minor victory against the might of the British army and declared their independence.

Us and our cousins across the pond are good mates, so we are .

Log in or Sign up

A Letter To London, Chicago Tribune Editorial

Barmy Army Simple mind, simple pleasures... Adored Veteran

Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

Barmy Army Simple mind, simple pleasures... Adored Veteran

Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

Barmy Army Simple mind, simple pleasures... Adored Veteran