It is with great regret the Public Life makes space for national news. I use the word "regret" due to the seriousness and...reality which is present enough to make me comment.
Recently, Britain has undergone a surge of terror threats. First, a car bomb in London was deactivated within minutes of going off. More recently two more mysterious packages have been identified in the capital along with a flaming car being driven into the entrance hall of Glasgow Airport.
The nation's terror alert gas been raised to "critical", meaning an attack is expected "imminently". It seems that we are, yet again, on the brink of a disastrous terrorist attack.
Nationwide
The real worry, possibly to your surprise, lies in the attack on Glasgow Airport. To me, this brings the severity of terrorism knocking at your door. Though no one was killed and only one civilian injured, the attack showed a nationwide awareness. No longer are terrorist threats likely to occur in London - the whole country is at risk.
As selfish as it may seem, the spread from London does bring with it real problems. Security now needs to be stepped up around the entire country - an almost impossible task. Police will be on full alert, constantly watching over the lands they must protect as a duty.
Vigilance
Many public figures have encouraged the nation to be "vigilant". They want anything suspicious reported to police in an attempt to foil any sort of attack before it happens.
But how can one really define a "mysterious" package or vehicle? I can plenty of unattended vehicles which could easily disguise bombs or suchlike. Similarly, bags may often seem unattended at bus stops if a distance from the owner.
It is likely that, in the immediate future, police will be overwhelmed by calls about unattended baggage which will turn out to contain little more than make-up and a copy of Hello magazine.
It is also sadly likely that "vigilance" will turn to discrimination towards minority races. Less than solving the problem inequality problems in Britain, terrorist attacks instead widen the difference gaps.
Passive
Personally, I won't be calling the police about mysterious anythings unless I feel the situation really deserves it. In my eyes, if people want to put bombs in public places, they damned well will.
Parking a vehicles in a car park in a busy shopping centre really requires very little effort, brains or courage. As long as you have the willpower, it's actually rather easy.
Sadly, stopping such threats is unfeasible to say the least. Possible solutions include not allowing anyone near any public places but rather forcing them to stay at home. Alternatively, we could become a Big Brother state, keeping track of every single person in the country and creating an Orwellian dictatorship.
The optimum solution is, worryingly, to just let it pass. Let it go and not let the attacks get to us. After all, "Ignorance is Strength".
Gordon Brown
You've got to feel sorry for our new Prime Minister (not Harold Saxon, the other one). He's stuck in a very tricky situation within just days of taking his new position. If this is any indication of what Mr Brown's days of power will be like, I feel for him. He is going to be a very unfortunate man.
I hate to say it in many ways, but maybe this is it. A new Prime Minister; a new cabinet; a new spate of attacks. Maybe this is the time for change.
We've seen the theme of radical change occur in books and films for years. Something sparks the government to make a huge modifications to their country in order to save it.
It is possible, though not necessarily likely, that we are witnessing the beginning of something massive. Something historic. This could possibly change our country forever.
But I've said that before. A lot.
