RIP: All who were killed at the Manchester Arena.

It's a disgrace, completely tragic...a bunch of young kids going to a teeny-bopper concert...possibly could have been the first concert for many of them, how exciting it must have been for them.

Really shocked. My condolence and ... terrorists suck. 

RIP, of course

As a parent and grand-parent who has attended concerts with my kids and grand kids over the years and witnessed the sheer joy and wonder in their eyes at the spectacle (regardless of whether it was B*Witched or Rush!) i can only offer my deepest heartfelt condolences to those caught up in this senseless act of evil.. But its equally important to remember and applaud the acts of kindness and humanity offered up by the people of Manchester in support of the victims and emergency services, regardless of their religion, creed, class etc.

Atavachron wrote: ^ But I agree, and I don't fear terrorism.   We must stand up to it; it's better to get a bloody nose (or worse) than to knuckle under.

I agree that we must stand up to it or they win but I do fear terrorism. It has the capacity to reduce to rubble pretty much everything and everyone I value and believe worth living for.

lazland wrote: You absolutely despair at the mindset of people who could commit such an appalling act. This was deliberately targeted at an audience of young people and their parents. Staggering, really, and there must now be a movement to bear down properly on this type of lunatic. Moderate Muslims must play their part, because the ideology of the nut jobs is well known in the communities. RIP. Such a tragic day.

It is so tragic. The loss of life is tragic but so is the fact that a young man can become radicalised to the point where killing children is acceptable to them. It bothers me that someone's empathy can be eroded by brainwashing, but then it's not a new phenomenon. WE saw it in Nazi Germany, we saw it in relatively recent times in the Balkans. The human mind, regardless of age is a very weak and malleable thing.

As for 'moderate Muslims' they do play their part. The Muslim council of Britain always condemns acts of violence, as does the Quilliam foundation, who actively campaigns to promote strategies to counter radicalisation of the young. There are numerous Muslim charities that work along side other faith based charities doing community work and promoting diversity etc etc...it simply doesn't get reported, because division and hatred is far more exciting and sexy from a news POV.

However - TRIGGER WARNING - I don't believe there is such a thing as 'moderate Islam' Just because someone renounces violence and rejects terrorism, it doesn't make them moderate if they also believe that gay people are evil and should be killed as is the law in the majority of Muslim countries. Moderate Islam is essentially a meaningless western tag applied to Muslims who don't carry out or support terrorism. They may however be very extreme by western standards in other ways.

Insanity !

My heart aches at the prospect of this becoming the new normal  for our present and future generations - senseless violence and death and the resulting fear corroding our day-to-day lifes

.....when I heard the news of an 8 year old victim, tears ran down my cheek........I'm so angry now........

Tom Ozric wrote: R.I.P. to all those lost in this evil act of, totally unnecessary, violence. My heart goes out to all families.  Why do we have to live in a World of fear ?? Can't even go to a Rock / Pop concert in comfort.......... Something needs to be done. NOW !