“Bombers were all sponging asylum seekers” was the big, bold title on the front of today’s Daily Mail. I didn’t pick up the paper and bother to read the article as I had already read enough to have my stomach turned. Just to make matters even worse I noticed that in the top left hand corner of the front page was a union flag. So we can be very clear about where the Daily Mail stands on the issue of immigration – not that we were ever in much doubt.

What I can’t quite work out is how they think that this sort of tone is in anyway helpful at anytime let alone now when the need to stand together is greater than ever. But, of course, they don’t care about that. What they do care about is shifting as many papers as possible. They probably also believe the right wing rubbish they write too.

I repeat: everyone needs to stand firm against those who wish to do harm to the country. Stirring up racial unrest is not helpful and gives the bombers what they strive for. My advice? Don’t buy the Daily Mail.

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Following the bomb attacks last Thursday US President George Bush, addressing an audience of 1000 FBI agents but clearly intending his words to be heard by a wider audience, said “In this difficult hour, the people of Great Britain can know the American people stand with you”. (BBC News)

Well, actually that has quickly turned out not to be true – they aren’t standing with us but ever so slightly further away outside of the M25… It seems that American soldiers stationed at bases in the UK have been banned for travelling anywhere inside the M25, i.e London. (BBC News). Are these not the brave men and women that the US relies upon to go into difficult situations around the world to promote America’s brand of freedom? If they can’t handle a shopping trip to London a week AFTER a bomb attack then the US should be pretty worried about the state of their defences.

I am really struggling not to use the word “hypocrite” here (oops it just slipped out) but I really cannot think of anything else to describe it. How can you on the one hand give support and then with the other take it away? It’s an art that clearly only the Americans have mastered.

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What a difference 24 hours can make. Only yesterday London was celibrating the success of capturing the 2012 Olympics and today it is rocked by a terrorist attack.

I, like any other normal person, was shocked and sickened by the attacks. I just cannot comprehend just what the attackers think they will gain from such an attack. Will it make me less likely to travel to London? No. Will it make me less likely to travel on public transport? No. Will it make me more likely to support their cause? No. So what has it achieved, how has it furthered their cause and what is their ultimate aim. As it is unspoken one can only assume that they have no aim and no purpose other than to cause death and disruption.

My family and friends in London were fortunately not hurt in any of the blasts – others were not so lucky. We will see this through and London will quickly return to normal, however, it will take us a long time to forget.

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