RateItAll: The Opinion Network

POLL : 100,000 MUSLIMS IN ENGLAND SUPPORT LONDON TRAIN & BUS TERRORIST ATTACKS ON JULY 7, 2005 !!! One in four Muslims in England sympathizes with motives of terrorists. Six per cent polled insist that the bombings were fully justified. England has an 2006 estimated population of about 50,000,000, the combined states of Texas & California have over a 55,000,000 population . 6% Muslims in this poll admitted the bombings were justified, who knows how many Muslims lied in the poll? The figures could be much higher. It wasn't too smart of the 6% Muslims who told the truth in this poll, they would have been smarter to keep their "hate" feelings to themselves! Read full article here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/ displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/23/npoll23.xml&site=5&page=0

'BASTARDS'-which was a headline in one of the London papers was more appropriate-but obviously,still much too nice.

I agree with that statement. In fact, the Queen gave a very good speech which defied the terrorists. Although it wasn't 'were going to nuke you' it was on the lines of that London will never surrender to terrorism and will live our lives as normal whether you like it or not. Terrorists want nations to live in fear and not being afraid is a good method for the average citizen to fight terrorism. I am personally very sad at this event and my heart and prayers go out to them. London is such a peaceful city, and I like the English people. They are such a noble lot. What is so evil about these terrorists was the fact that they weren't trying to attack an economic or military target (as in 9/11, not that that makes it any better) but this focus was primarily on frightening civilians. It is funny how they timed the activity, it was straight after the announcement that London won the right to hold the Olympics in 2012. Although this attack was already planned, this was an ideal time for terrorists as it will cause fear, unrest, it is an opportunity to send a world message because the Olympics is a world event and they are trying to break the spirit of peace that the Olympics provides. These terrorists are a cowardly, selfish, evil lot who represent the absolute scum and worst that humanity has to offer. All terrorists are a physical manifestation of Satan himself.

I had my family phone me up in a panic to see if myself and my partner were alright. Fortunately I don't work in Central London, but my partner does - he doesn't have to use the tube though so he missed everything. What has happened in what I regard to be my home city after living there for five years has reduced me to tears. But one thing that Londoners and us Brits do well is we carry on as normal as soon as possible. After the blitz of World War 2 and the bombing by the IRA for about 30 years, Londoners have built up the resolve to carry on as normal. We refuse to panic, get scared, not use our public transport. We WILL carry on with our lives. The death toll now stands at around 50 and is expected to increase, we mourn for those people and they will not be forgotten. Tributes are already being left at the stations that were hit. But to be honest, we are also grateful that it wasn't worse. The terrorists had the opportunity to hit some of the busiest places in London and could have killed thousands. Like with the USA, the terrorists picked the wrong country, we will fight back and they will be punished.

The British have certainly taken this horrible attack very stoically. There seems to be a sense that they've taken it and want to move on. That's good, for it ensures that people won't be subsequently terrorized by these fanatics. I think that this terrorist action in London yesterday should lead to a renewed discussion on an international level about the causes of this form of Islamofascist/Wahhabi inspired terrorism. This is all motivated by an extreme form of religious faith that, while it is in the minority, has a toxic influence on our public discourse. New evidence seems to indicate that these were suicide bombers who detonated themselves on the subways and the buses during rush hour yesterday. One has to only consider what kind of fanatic belief would motivate them to kill themselves and innocent bystanders. It's disrespect for life that motivates these people, a detachment from any sort of decent values. Such fanaticism isn't relegated to the Islamic faith. Such fervor in belief not only influences the major faiths, but it also now is informing our politics. More and more you find people, even here in America, that fanatically hold on to their opinions with such fervor. The only thing that's lost in all of this is a sense of pluralism and tolerance for other opinions and other faiths--remember these were the values that America was founded on. To be honest, I can't explain why such extremism that is mainly religiously motivated has now entered the public discourse. But what I can say is that this lack of moderation is what ultimately leads to such violent actions as what were taken yesterday in London.

On July 8, the people of London woke to a new day, and made it a point to go on with their every day lives. As one man put it, We are determined to go to work today. When asked what he meant by determined, he said, Well, you have to be. Otherwise they've won, haven't they? Sounds familiar. We may be different, but we are not so different. God save the Queen. *UPDATE* I haven't found anything where donations can be sent specifically for this, but if anyone wants to help with a donation to the British Red Cross, here is a link: http://www.redcross.org.uk/section.asp?id=40000

Of all the moving things I heard in the news yesterday I think I was most moved by something one of the passengers on the Tube said. Here was this man who had just moments before been trapped below London streets waiting to die, witness to all kinds of carnage and badly shaken up and he ended his account of it by saying that he pitied the people who did it. The reporter interviewing him wasnt even sure he heard it correctly and repeated the word, pity as a question. And he said yes, anyone who would do something like this is to be pitied. Now thats what I call a decent human being. Bless him and bless all Londoners!

I am deeply appalled by the events which unfolded today. Innocent people died, loved ones' lives have changed, and for what? How could this be at all justified? My heart goes out to those whose lives have been unfairly altered by someone's sick idea of righteousness.

These bonehead terrorists must have forgotten how the British reacted to terror bombing from German planes in World War 2. I'd bet on a stiffening resolve rather than the Spanish reaction when they got hit.

This is, without a doubt, the worst terrorist attack in British history. The one thing I would have hated to happen would be for our politicians to use this horrible tragedy as a type of leverage in policy-making. However, when I saw an interview with the Home Secretary Charles Clarke this evening, I felt my fears being allayed. When he was asked about new policies that might stem from the attacks, he talked instead about the profound heroism of our doctors, our police and even ordinary Londoners in responding to the tragedy, and said that our intelligence agencies are already doing all that they can to prevent terrorism in accordance with our civil liberties. He also commented that there was a great unity in parliament in the aftermath of the attacks, and there was extreme effort being made to assure that things would be able to continue as normal in London tomorrow. I must say I felt very proud listening to this. I feel very proud to live in a nation that can react to the worst of situations without succumbing to disunity or fear, and continue to go on in the face of adversity. Just over sixty years ago, this nation surmounted Adolf Hitler, and as I look around me now, I see the same type of collective strength as I have heard my Father tell me of in stories of my Grandfather's time.

Somebody, please post an address where I can send money to help the victims of this cowardly, unforgivable act.

My heart and prayers go out to the people of England, they were true friends of the United States when we were attacked.