The London bombs

This is taken from a monthly column which I am writing for the local newspaper in Asahi, Japan:

This month there was a terrorist bomb back in my homeland in England; a bomb which killed more than fifty people and injured many more. Many believe it was a retaliation against the western occupation of Iraq by England, America and other countries (including Japan), and that it was carried out by Islamic extremists.

People in England were warned that a terrorist attack would happen and it did. We were not surprised, and the week after the attacks people were back to work as normal. We cannot let this sort of incident affect our daily lives.

However, the bombers did not come from Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan – they were English, and had lived in England all their lives. They had gone to English schools and universities and been a part of English society. One of them was a teacher. The kind of person I have probably sat opposite on the bus to work everyday or lived next door to. In Japan, people notice the foreigner on the train or walking through town. But in England, everyone looks different. The terrorist could be anyone.

These bombers wanted to kill anyone and everyone, regardless of age, race or religion. They were Islamic extremists yet they killed and injured fellow Muslims. They were English, yet they killed and injured English people. I believe that people are generally good - whatever religious denomination. It is only a small number of deviants who tarnish a whole religion and a race.

But, we must face the truth. Hatred is within human nature and we must never be arrogant enough to think it is a sentiment foreign to each one of us at one level or another. We cannot blame Muslims. Instead, we need to address the reasons that people feel the need to inflict pain and suffering on others and stop the spread of hate.