rant mode on
So, today some absolute arseholes decided to launch a terrorist attack on London. I'm pretty much speechless. Less than 24 hours after London was awarded the Olympic games in 2012, they decide to unleash hell on in the middle of peak-hour.
I mean, let's look at the symbolism of this attack. The fundamental principles of the Olympic movement are spelled out in the preamble to the Olympic Charter:
- Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in
a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport
with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life
based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and
respect for universal fundamental ethical principles. - The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the
harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a
peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity. - The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal
and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the
IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of
Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the
bringing together of the world's athletes at the great sports festival, the
Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced rings. - The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must
have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any
kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding
with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation,
administration and management of sport must be controlled by
independent sports organisations. - Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person
on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is
incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
Now, does anyone have a problem with these principles? Why attack a city that is in the midst of a celebration of these principles? It doesn't make any sense.
I guess you can say the attacks were due to the G8 meeting in Edinburgh, but then why attack London?
Are you trying to send a message to Blair? Give the guy a break, he has spent the last month or so trying to work out a way of saving Africa from destitution and to fix the massive problem of global warming. He might have screwed up on Iraq BUT NOW HE IS TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING!
I think this all has me kind of pissed. Maybe it's because my sister lives in London and I'm having a brotherly bout of "you pick a fight with my sister you're picking a fight with me" syndrome. But maybe it's because I think this is a really despicable act that is designed to ruin a celebration of something that I believe should be celebrated.
rant mode off
