Tragic Terror

I was in a rush last night, I published my Blip, frivolous, funny, light hearted Lobey lightened my day. I had driven home with music playing, I needed some music to help me clear my mind, so no news, the traffic report interrupted my playlist and made mention of a police incident near to Woolwich Barracks and that the area should be avoided, I never paid it much heed.

When I finally saw the news I was deeply saddened by the events that had been played out in Woolwich. It is a sign of the times that this should have played out in real time, social media playing its part, twitter, Facebook, Youtube and then the professional media streaming the horrific events to the world.

It was history repeating itself many of you will remember the murder of corporals David Howes and Derek Wood in Northern Ireland, they strayed into a funeral cortege and were dragged from their car tortured and shot dead.

Yesterday Drummer Lee Rigby of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was callously struck down for no other reason than he was a soldier, a man who served his country. Lee Rigby was so much more than the soldier we hear about headlined in the news, he was a son, a father, a husband, family man, a young man senselessly killed for nothing.

What of the men who perpetrated this heinous attack, they were calculating courting attention seeking to share their atrocity with the world. Perpetrated in the name of religion, it would be easy to say Muslim's perpetrated this crime however that is not true, this crime was the act of mad men; fundamentalist Muslim men, who acted as mad men. It would be easy to vilify all Muslims but this would be so wrong, we have the right to freedoms in this country fought for and protected by Lee Rigby and his colleagues. The perpetrator will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, they will in all likelihood, if found guilty never walk the street again as a full life tarrif would seem the only realistic sentence.

I have found in recent years I have been more deeply affected by such events, this morning I walked to George Square in Glasgow, to the War Memorial, an imposing monument set against the hard lines of the City Chambers. It was a little before 6am, I had the square to myself, there was no traffic, no sound, a almost eerie stillness in the heart of this busy city. I stood and looked at the fading poppy wreaths and reflected on yesterdays horror, a silent tear fell, and I am not ashamed to say that, I find man's inhumanity to his fellow man abhorrent.

I hope my diatribe has not stirred up any ill feeling, if it does please be assured it was not my intent.. Today please remember Drummer Rigby, his family and his friends for their world will never be the same again