Sunday, July 24, 2005
Was sitting on the MRT to find Wilbur today to have dinner at the Japanese restaurant at Amara Hotel today. With a second bomb blast in London making headlines yesterday and Egypt's 7 suicide bombing making the news today, I expected empty trains and bus. Indeed there was fewer people than expected on a Saturday night. However, Orchard Road and the transportation system in Singapore is still nothing short of crowded. Far from terrifying people into a panicked frenzy, the bomb blast just reinforces the view that our lives must go on, as it is, without disruption from terrorist.
Its interesting to note that the London under attack now is the same London that 3 generations ago again held out against a determined Luftwaffe air strike, and 2 generations ago was the front line in the Cold War. Just as Churchill had nuthing to offer but blood, sweat and tears, Blair now has the task of rallying the people behind a concerted effort to repel the terror from Britain's shores.
While many have feared that the network of camera on its Underground and its main streets will amount to a Owellian nightmare, few are complaining now when the same cameras produced the images of the initial suspects linked to the bombings. Its is tight-roped that every democractic nation needs to walk, to balance national security while trying to ensure the freedom of her people. But the last thing that Britain needs to do is to back away in the face of terror and cower to them. The symbollic importance of killing a suspect in the subway is far more important the actual death of one suspected terrorist. It give the clear and distinct message that such acts will not be tolerated and allowed to continue.
And what better country to carry through such drastic measures than Singapore? From the banning of chewing to death sentances for drug offenders, Singapore has shown herself to be harder than nails and tougher than the iron-lady's handbag. Thus i think next time you get on the train, just rest easy.
12:43 AM
