The statement 'Communities United Against Terror' evokes an elementary human responsibility to assert universal values of reason and solidarity against the atomising effects of despair and fear. On the morning of Thursday 7 July I sat at home in Kings Cross, London drinking coffee, reading, gradually becoming aware of the growing cacophony of helicopters, police sirens and frightened voices outside as public transport, offices and workplaces were evacuated into the streets and ignorant of the carnage beneath my feet. The aftermath of the atrocities has revealed a profound disorientation in some reactions to the terrorist bombings. As a public transport worker and trade unionist I belong to a community that is organised worldwide. When train drivers are targeted for horrific murder in Iraq, as they are by terrorists, we raise our voices in the trade union movement in solidarity with our fellow workers, pledge to support them and refuse to leave them isolated. When terrorists choose the softest of soft targets, London Transport, to advertise their hatred of humanity, the enormity of their offence calls forth a human instinct to restate our community of values and interests as an instrument of defiance against what the Basque philosopher, Unamuno called in 1936, "a necrophilious and senseless cry: 'Long live death.'" We can best make our reply by refusing a stampede into irrationality, prejudice and defensive inwardness and by learning from trade unionists the importance of solidarity. |
