Madrid

biffa · Post by **biffa** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 10:20 pm

My thoughts for all those caught up in the terrible events in Madrid. Please God that this is not the work of Al Qaeda as now is being said and that any form of reprisal is not made aginst Portugal for its support of the US actions in Iraq.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 10:36 pm

That doesn't bear thinking about Biffa.Lets hope& pray it isn't Al queida.
I put topic (Horrific) this morning after 10am..it was bad enough then.....never thought it would get much so worse..which it has.

God bless all those poor souls.....ellie

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 1:46 pm

My thoughts also go out to all the families of the people killed and injured in the horrendous attack in Madrid.
If this year had not been a leap year it would have been 911 days since the twin towers attack! coincidence? I don't think so, this is the work of al-Qa'eda. Eta do not go out to kill people just distrupt they would not do something as terrible as this.
What has this world come to???

digger · Post by **digger** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 2:07 pm

I just hope the Spanish Government are right in thinking ETA are to blame. And it’s their own internal problem.

Selfish….. I know

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 3:48 pm

Two points!
Well ..if the Spanish government are right.in that it is ETA...then how can you say they dont go out to kill....just disrupt?
Some disruption

Nearly 200 dead ..over 1000 injured & maimed

I would disagree about ETA not 'going out to kill'..a few years ago 21 Spanish were killed in a supermarket by one of their bombs.
Haven't they also asassinated a few leading figures in politics?

I heard on the news that a copy/recording of the Koran was found near one of detinators yesterday..or was this just a 'plant'?
I believe these murderers,men/women of evil..are linking up..and the thought is terrifying.
The devil is alive and well and has many disciples

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 5:04 pm

When I said that ETA 'don't go out to kill,' I meant that normaly they give warnings before they bomb or do something else just as terrible, yes they have killed before, they are a terrorist group that is their aim, but I dought very much that they had the ability to cause so much damage, in such an organised way as the bombing of these trains in Spain.
Any form of terrorism is horrendous, I just wish there was some way to stop it all, but they must not be allowed to acheive there aim of world panic.

e-richard · Post by **e-richard** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 7:58 pm

One of the saddest parts about all this is that the terrorists, whoever they may be have achieved some part of their aims which I believe to be simply drawing attention to themsleves or their cause and making the world sit up and look. In some extermely perverse sense, where they have a genuine grievance, I can even see the method in their madness. I wish I couldn't.

Hard though it is to grasp or even for me to type this, have you realised that the simple three digits 9-11 have entered our common language as a well known term

- Bin Laden is one of the most well known names in the world. and so on....

Personally, I'd like to suggest that the world's media club together and refuse to publish one line of news about such atrocities, but somehow I think I won't suceed.

See, even I am contributing to the further publicity of these events

digger · Post by **digger** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:20 pm

We do have lots of news channels on tv, but it seems I can’t avoid Sky News (!). My fault: I just love to hate them. Since yesterday morning they’ve hardly stopped going on about Madrid, understandably, but they keep showing that picture of bin laden (as if it’s some kind of photo-opportunity). And when they do offer another news story it’s either something about Lady Di (another familiar photo), or they are raking up that story about those two murdered schoolgirls (more familiar photos/images). And that’s it. It’s disgusting. I feel brainwashed.

e-richard, I hope you, at least, know what I’m going on about. Are you in cvo at mo. How’s it going?

Steve & Mandy · Post by **Steve & Mandy** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:09 pm

Firstly our thoughts go to the family and friends of the people harmed or killed in the bombings in Spain. I thoughts are with you.
Eta are denying their involvement , of course they are , this has gone a lot further than even they expected. Unlike stated earlier . (Ellie i think ) , they do not always give warnings. They want to attract attention , but it has more than back fired. They have killed and maimed and expected the Spanish people to support their terrorist action , instead the whole nation is against them. How can they hope to win support , they have finally placed the nail in their own coffins. People of Spain unite , you have our support . Like September 11 the American people united , so too must you , dont let them win.

e-richard · Post by **e-richard** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:26 pm

Hi Digger. know exactly what you mean. Afraid, I'm stuck in the UK for a while, not out to CVO till just after Easter.

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:04 am

No--it wasn't me that said ETA usually give warnings --it was Lesley.

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:25 am

I just do not understand some of the reasoning on this topic tonight. Are you suggesting there be some sort of censorship on news such as this horrific bloody slaughter?
Heard on the radio a few minutes ago..baby of six months is the latest victim ..and of schoolchildren ..still waiting to be collected from school...and seems their parents have been killed

I saw one lady being interviewed in hospital who was from Belfast..well if anyone knows about bombing and killings ..folk from their surely do..she was saying how lucky she was to survive bless her.
You cant shy away from this ..its real ..its life ..its what men do to each other....who'd have thought it could have struck at the heart of America eh?
But it did and it could happen anywhere.

e-richard · Post by **e-richard** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:46 am

Ellie, I'm going to argue this point...its not personal, but its one I do feel warrants some airing.

I'm not suggesting censorship at all. If there is any witholding of news, then I'm simply suggesting that the media can do it off their own bat.

Now, whether they should or should not is a very difficult question. As Ellie puts it, its real life and its horrific and we cannot, should not hide away from real life. The media have a duty to report real life.

My dilemma is that this serves the terrorists cause and anything that contributes to their cause is worse than anything else. I mean anything else. And if that means self-censorship, then thats what I am suggesting.

If I may be permitted a very trite analogy. The BBC have chosen to turn cameras off when streakers interrupt any sports events. This is not because the BBC are prudes. Its because they understand that the streaker is out for cheap publicity, and they do not wish to be party to that. Its a trite analogy, but if the media could also in some way avoid giving the terrorists the attention that they seek, then maybe we'd be better served.

OK, it aint gonna happen, but I feel better getting that off my chest. See what publicity can do for one?

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:51 pm

Richard..
D'you really think that those evil cold-blooded bastards(sorry about language..I could think of worse to call them)..would really go away if the journalists and cameras weren't around?
Well...like you..Id like to think that too....but I do not believe it.
Because they don't only feed on publicity but on the gullible young men & women who they entice into their murderous plans..turning them into suicide bombers.
I watched a BBC report some time back..and it was journalism at its best..where one of their reporters went amongst a crowd in Palestine and filmed the 'leaders' ..who were older men...and they were recruiting young people for their 'killing spree'...
okay...as you & Digger have stated...for past couple days/nights the tv and radio have 'saturated' us with the images of Madrid and youve had enough..well self -censorship is your right and choice....it isnt good to watch but horrendous...there but for the grace of God and all that......but maybe Im 'a voice crying in the wilderness'.......
Maybe Im not expressing myself very clearly..but I feel very much for those Spanish people who've lost so many loved ones..and I pray for them.
But I also pray for the young men/women who are seduced into this life of terrorism, believing they are on the 'road to Heaven' whilst leaving 'Hell on earth'!
Have a nice day.

Madrid

Madrid

Sad day