Dreadful news tonight, fraternité with all our French neighbours and anyone affected.
Fraternite et Solidarite avec La France.
We shouldn't let the :censored: who perpetrate this sort of thing get the better of us, but our collective fear will go up a notch all round the world I expect and regret. This is exactly what they want.
Webbo
[mod]Please refrain from using unacceptable language, this is a family-friendly forum![/mod]
What terrible news, my heart goes out to the victims families.
Thank you all. Thankfully my family are OK.
Joe from Paris
Still reeling from the shock. Thanks for your thoughts.
Kevin
Tottally shocked by the events which happened in Paris last night, condolences to all those involved, stay strong France this could of happened anywhere in the world.
This world needs to take approptiate action against who ever made this attack on freedom of innocent people.
My heart goes out to everyone in this blood bath.
I pray for peace on earth.
Ditto above posts .
Having been in London during the IRA bombings and the more recent tube attacks, I can relate to the horror that is taking place.
It is great to know that people we know, on the forum, are safe.
Dreadful news of atrocities once again. Heart felt sympathy goes out to people involved.
I'm sure much of the money hacked from internet bank accounts is making it's way to fund these groups. Certainly during our own Irish conflict in the 70s funding was being raised through drugs. A good mate on the drugs squad told me this at the time, yet it took several years to become common knowledge. Perhaps sometime soon the authorities will wake up and take cyber crime/security much more seriously and do something positive, other than just words. I'll screw my neck in now guys!
A terrible and cowardly act terrorism. I was in Guildford that Saturday evening when The Horse and Groom was blown up back in 74, I felt the shock of the blast a quarter of a mile away, not long after some people boarded my bus still dazed and crying with specks of blood on their clothes, a horrid memory that has stayed with me.
We had a very close friend and neighbour who survived the tube bombing, she was actually in one of the carriages that was blown up, her nerves were ripped to shreds it has taken her years to be able to speak without a stammer.
And to think that our beloved and trusty Police service is yet to undergo more cuts.......That's Scary! :worried:
Pray for France
I feel so shocked reading about these terrible events. My sympathy to all those who are in any way affected.
Horrendous events. My sympathy to all those who are in any way affected. Our governments need to wake up to this otherwise I fear its going to get worse.
My heart goes out to all our brothers and sisters in Paris. Never lose hope of peace.
Absolutely to the above. My 2 nieces have confirmed via Facebook they are fine. I have asked them about their 2 brothers, and parents - their father is my elder brother. They mostly live in Vitry in the southern suburbs of Paris.
reports on BBC news of landside Gatwick north terminal evacuated, EOD team on site. one man arrested.
nothing to say this was linked to the terrible events in Paris, may just be a coincidence.
when you see the clips on the news of the 'refugees' streaming into Europe, you can't help but notice the number of young single men among them, often appearing to be well organised and ready to take violent action against security forces.
how many of them have another agenda ?
Thanks to all. :thankyousign: This attack has been a big shock for us, even here at 30 kilometers fom Paris. My brother, living near the Place de la Republique said this morning that Paris is almost dead this night. This morning, nobody was in the streets, all shops closed, only military and police people moving everywhere... And a hard job to find its 'baguette' !
In a few hours, the sadness will be replaced by anger, and I hope the French state, but also the European community, will do something against these horrible people... :veryangry: :veryangry:
Absolutely awful. I won't comment on what I'd like to happen!!!!
The school I work at had a group of teachers and Year 12 & 13's in Paris for the weekend. Thankfully they are all safe and back in the UK since this morning.
Quote from: Tank on November 14, 2015, 01:34:28 PM
Thankfully they are all safe and back in the UK since this morning.
Good news !
I really don't think it is appropriate to start trying to analyze how these sick individuals did it all and apportioning blame, this is for later dicussions!
My thoughts go out to all those who have been caught up in these horrific acts!
"JE SUIS FRANCE"
Please keep this thread on topic and not start political arguments (which are against forum rules) on refugess etc, so please, unless you wish to express your sympathies at this outrageous atrocity, please pass this thread by.
Apologies, CAZ
Guys,
I don't care about the politics, but I think we should keep this strictly on topic and forget the politics and attempting any comparisons.
Lets just keep our thoughts with the people of France, and stay strong as things are still developing both in France and even here in the UK (Potential weapons drop at Gatwick Airport)
Quote from: Caz on November 14, 2015, 02:58:40 PM
Please keep this thread on topic and not start political arguments (which are against forum rules) on refugess etc, so please, unless you wish to express your sympathies at this outrageous atrocity, please pass this thread by.
Caz isn't wrong, and to some extent there's something to be said about locking down any discussion at all, and simply asking people to "Thank You" a generic statement from the forum management.
But here's my thing. If all people do is say how much they feel bad about the people in France, it all amounts to nothing but pixels. Unless people think about the issues and act according to their consciences, nothing will ever change. It may be you want to welcome the refugees. It may be you think more military action in Syria and Iraq is required. It may be you want your politicians to stay out of foreign affairs and let other countries determine their own fates. But unless your belief turns into action, even if only at the ballot box, it's all empty and meaningless.
For me, having the freedom to express an opinion on these issues is precisely what the terrorists would like to eliminate. The question for anyone living in the UK (or any other liberal democracy) is to what extent that freedom to discuss politics should be exercised. It's the tension between having the right to offend someone and the desire not to offend them.
Cheers, NeMo
For what it's worth, life in Paris is continuing more or less as normal, although there were less people on the streets this afternoon compared with a normal Saturday. My daughter has gone to the female equivalent of a barmitzvah this evening.
Hope this episode will not be repeated for a long time.
Best regards,
Joe from Paris (but in Bangladesh until Tuesday)
You make a fair point NeMo and the place for expressing opinions on refugees and other political topics is with your local MP or other political forums rather than our model railway forum.
This thread is purely about expressing sympathies about the atrocity in France and the Moderation team are removing any posts that have political sentiments (and this includes quotes from other posts).
This is not about politics but humanity and compassion. Division and fear (including fear of the other in this case refugees etc) is exactly what terrorists want.
I've had very lucky escapes in the Manchester bombing by the IRA and was a tube or two behind one of the 7/7 bombs. It was quite conceivable that some of my friends could have been in the concert venue last night (fortunately they weren't). The night before I had been at an event with most of the band present. It all brings home to you the sheer senselessness of it.
Despite all that if we lose our sense of humanity, decency and solidarity then the terrorists really have won. I have nothing but sympat for all affected.
Hideous news. My condolences and best wishes to all those caught up in those dreadful events. Vive last France!
Words cannot describe the disgust I feel towards the people who planned this cowardly act.
My heart goes out to France and the people of Paris.
People say this should only be about humanity and compassion, the people commiting this and similar crimes have no compassion, and I do not consider them to be human.
Words fail me....
I'm changing my flag to support the 3 days of mourning in France. Should members wish to join me they will find it at http://www.gifs.net/Animation11/Geography_and_History/International_Flags/france.gif (http://www.gifs.net/Animation11/Geography_and_History/International_Flags/france.gif)
I could point a lot of fingers at all to liberal (scared to offend) attitudes being at the root of all this, or poor leadership decisions but I will only get told off by Caz, so I wont mention any of those things.
Share the flag, share the sorrow, strength in solidarity
Thanks for the link Lawrence.
Sorry folks but all this talk of liberal tendencies etc is exactly what the terrorists want. I feel pretty ashamed that the model railway community is so intolerant.
I hate to say this, but you are all doing what the terrorists want.
The only way to put a halt to this is have news blackout, just like we did with the IRA, don't give them the airtime they crave.
There is a danger, in the aftermath of any extremist attack, for people to hit out at those who are different, simply for being different. This is a human trait.
However, the words that are put out through social media, or forums, written without thought, in the heat of the moment, can easily become an extremist view. THINK, lest you become the extremist you are decrying.
We are all human being, living upon this planet Earth, and should all respect one another's views and differences.
I would urge anyone to think before they say anything, or do anything. This goes for world leaders, as well as anyone else.
You do not fight extremist views with extreme measures. You fight them with unity and common cause. The way forward is in calm planned responses.
Ware the way of angry, unthinking responses, lest ye become them.
Quote from: NTrain on November 14, 2015, 10:27:48 PM
We are all human being, living upon this planet Earth, and should all respect one another's views and differences.
Honestly, I don't think this is true. I think you need to be more selective. You need to judge which views and differences are deserving of respect, and which ones aren't.
Some people put the milk in before pouring the tea. Others put the tea in, then they pour in the milk. Both these points of view can be respected because the difference doesn't matter. But if someone told me that the best way to make tea is to warm the teapot in the blood of a freshly killed baby, I'd have trouble accepting that. It isn't a point of view I can respect because it causing suffering for no good purpose.
The problem with the mantra "respect everyone and everything" is that it accords all points of view equal merit. But if some points of view are intrinsically unacceptable, then it's up to the individual to decide which they respect and which they reject.
My example above is deliberately clear cut. Obviously the real world is more nuanced than that, particularly where we're comparing national cultures, political systems and religious beliefs. But you do need to decide if the liberal western democracies we enjoy in the Western world is better than the alternative offered by the Islamic world.
If you simply say, "respect them all", then that's fine, but do understand that radicalised elements in most Islamic countries and states aren't going to suddenly vanish, any more than greedy capitalists are going to disappear from the Western democracies. They're both intrinsic to the system. Different edges of their societies, but persistent and to some degree produced by them by taking the underlying culture to a logical, if unappealing, conclusion.
Cheers, NeMo
"You fight them with unity and common cause. The way forward is in calm planned responses."
Do not mistake a call for a calm response to be a call for no response.
[mod]Folks let's just keep this thread as expressions of support, and not turn it into a discussion on how to deal with it. I really think that as railway modellers, we are not qualified in the arena. Plus, I would like to remind folk that we are a model railway forum.[/mod]
Peter Hitchens in the 'Mail' -- "Really want to beat terror? Then calm down and THINK". I'd say surprisingly good read but Hitchens always writes well, and thoughtfully, even when I don't agree with him.
"Could we please skip the empty bravado? This is a time for grief above all else, and a time to refrain from soundbites and posturing. France – our closest neighbour, oldest friend, beloved rival, what Philip Sidney called 'that sweet enemy' – France is stricken, and we should weep with her."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3318980/PETER-HITCHENS-Really-want-beat-terror-calm-THINK.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3318980/PETER-HITCHENS-Really-want-beat-terror-calm-THINK.html)
Cheers, NeMo
Quote from: NeMo on November 15, 2015, 09:30:55 AM
"Could we please skip the empty bravado? This is a time for grief above all else, and a time to refrain from soundbites and posturing. France – our closest neighbour, oldest friend, beloved rival, what Philip Sidney called 'that sweet enemy' – France is stricken, and we should weep with her."
Could not have put it better myself :(
Quote from: Pengi on November 15, 2015, 09:40:48 AM
Quote from: NeMo on November 15, 2015, 09:30:55 AM
"Could we please skip the empty bravado? This is a time for grief above all else, and a time to refrain from soundbites and posturing. France – our closest neighbour, oldest friend, beloved rival, what Philip Sidney called 'that sweet enemy' – France is stricken, and we should weep with her."
Could not have put it better myself :(
Ditto
Sorry, but this forum is not the place to discuss politics and/or religion - as stated in the Code of Conduct we've all agreed to.
I have my own opinions on what has occurred in Paris and elsewhere in the world but I know this is not the place for anything but sympathy for innocents.
Nuff said.
Quote from: newportnobby on November 15, 2015, 11:26:16 AM
Sorry, but this forum is not the place to discuss politics and/or religion - as stated in the Code of Conduct we've all agreed to.
I have my own opinions on what has occurred in Paris and elsewhere in the world but I know this is not the place for anything but sympathy for innocents.
Nuff said.
Precisely. Code of Conduct states "Political or Religious comment are banned" and for good reason. Keep it to expressions of sympathy please, anyone who insists on trying to discuss the political/religious elements of this tragedy risks having their account suspended or removed.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Paul
[mod] From our code of conduct
- Political or Religious comment are banned
- Do not deliberately make contentious or argumentative posts. The forum is not Speakers Corner and the forum rules apply to maintain a convivial atmosphere. Flagrant breach will result in suspension from the forum and possibly a ban
[/mod]
Fraternitè with France and Francais (our cousins).....
I only hope you will not support us..in their delirious messages , terrorists said next target will be Rome....and we are going to the Special Jubilee declared from Pope Francesco......million of christian pilgrims will arrive in the Capital..
Mmm...is not a good moment..