... in which this is the sound it makes

[soupytwist]

Today's the 10th anniversary of the IRA blowing up my city. It's deeply weird: on the one hand, yeah, it was a big deal and lots of people were hurt and it led to some important changes, but on the other... it was ten years ago and I can't help but feeling like most of the random articles I've seen about it today have missed the point

Comments

[tornyourdress]

And getting along as well as Manchester did is possible, and I can't help feeling that there's plenty of people in the world who could do with hearing that yeah, bad shit happens. It isn't fun. But it's also not the end of the story.

I know I've said this before... but, you, and your attitude to, well, everything? Is really really fantastic and inspiring and god, you rock. So very much.

Many many good wishes. *hugs*

[therealjae]

Wow. Yeah.

I adore you, you know?

And good wishes for tomorrow. I'll be spending most of it on a plane, but I'll be thinking about you.

-J

[therealjae]

Also, I am sad that this post is not public, because I want to link to it! :-)

-J

[soupytwist]

*takes a breath and unlocks it*

Just for you, J. :)

[entropical87]

This is such an obvious comparison, but I can only think about what it was like here in the US after 9-11; hell, what's it's still like today. I mean, yeah, you have to remember 'cause fuck if anyone can forget something like that. But you have to move on, too. Constant media coverage and rehashing of the events just rips off the scab again and again.

And god, you are so right. You can't let all the awful stuff be the end of the story. The really, really important part to remember is the good that came out of it, how people built new things on the rubble. And all the apologizing in the world doesn't change the fact that what happened, happened. If you need an apology to move on, well, you're never going to be able to do it.

I get the feeling that that tipped over into the realm of maudlin somewhere up there. :blush:

Best of luck tomorrow. :crosses fingers:

[soupytwist]

Yeah, seriously; it bugs me that pretty much everywhere seems to equate 'moving on' with 'saying September 11th wasn't a big deal', when that's totally not true. It's just that the buildings that were destroyed and the people who died aren't coming back just because people dwell on it, and people aren't going to deal with that and start to put it in its place in their ongoing life if every time they turn round they see people recounting how traumatic the whole thing must've been, right down to details. The people who are still suffering from trauma and stuff and need to go over the events themselves to work through it are probably doing that quite enough by themselves/with a therapist: they don't need the pictures. It just doesn't get you anywhere, and ack.

And I think you're right about apologies, too - they might be nice, but if you can't move on without one, you're probably still going to have trouble with one, because the lack of apology isn't the real issue.

[morganmuffle]

Bother. I could have sworn the bbc had a proper story up before, about the new buildings and how all the investment in manchester had rebuilt it and being all inspiring and looking back to see how far we've come except now I can't find it so perhaps I only dreamed it :S

[iwouldstay]

You know, that what I always think when I'm in Manchester. The IRA tried to blow up the place, but all they achieved in the end was a city that rebuilt itself better than it was before and that is brilliant now. That's what happened, more than the bomb itself; the bomb itself was terrible, but it happened, it is in the past, and Manchester has moved on. And that's how it should be.

There's a new exhibition in Urbis about the whole thing and it being in Urbis somehow makes me hope it's more about the rebuilding than the blast itself, but somehow it looks like I might be wrong. :/

All the best for tomorrow! *hugs*

[soupytwist]

I should try and have a look at the Urbis exhibit, if it's still there next time I'm back in Manchester.

*hugs* Thankyou. :)

[iwouldstay]

I think it'll be around until December, but I'll check again when I'm there tomorrow.