It has taken quite a while for me to choose a topic for this blog entry. In no way have I not enjoyed every second of this trip, it is just that I do not want to pick something specific. I just want to write about everything! I really loved the Docklands museum, I thought the interior design of each room, and the way each time period was organized truly helped in understanding. Each room produced an equal amount of fact and fun, both of which made the museum so memorable.
Regardless of my inability to make up my mind, today I became extremely interested with the the numerous parks or squares located throughout Bloomsburry. In particular I developed quite a fascination with the Peace Park. After 9/11 Americas devastation radiated through out the country. We frequently remember how tragic this event was and we continue to annually commemorate its date. However, many of us have forgotten, or rather never understood, the 7/7 events that took place in the heart of London. On July 7, 2005 a series of Muslim men took their own lives on public transportation units in response to the UK’s involvement in the Iraq war. Almost 60 people were killed, and about 700 were injured.
I decided to research this incident simply because of my own ignorance. When we entered the Peace Park today, I was overcome with its beauty. The park is rectangular shaped and in the center, surrounded by flowers, is a statue of Mohanda Karamchand Ghandi. I am unable to think of a better person to represent what this park stands for. In a way, the beauty itself symbolizes our world, and the statue is what our world needs, together they create serenity.
Nothing could have made my day any better. I felt as though the walking tour aided in helping me fully understand the path we take every day, and to appreciate those that have walked them before us.
2 responses so far ↓
hankreas12 // Aug 24th 2009 at 20:11
It’s a shame that after the amount of support that Great Britain (and most of the world for that matter) gave us after 9/11 that we, as Americans, were not nearly as well informed about the tragedy that occurred on 7/7/05 here in England. It’s these type of events that cause people both in and out of the U.S. to question our media, our education system and our worldview in general. How can we, as Americans encourage the citizens of our country who remain ignorant or are simply apathetic to understand how important an event like this is even though it does not directly affect us? This is something I continually struggle with and there is certainly no easy answer.
-Henry
Karl // Aug 29th 2009 at 08:52
I wonder how many Brits (and us too) reflect on the irony of Ghandi in Peace Park (Tavistock). After all, Ghandi developed his ideas of peaceful resistance AGAINST British colonization of India. The man once viewed as the thorn in the crown jewel of Britain now represents the pain and suffering in Britain at the hands of terrorists.
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