Would you go to London

[limey234]

We have a tourist trip booked in half term. Lots of museums, the tube, shops, tourist destinations with our two kids (under 7).

Would you go? Given the situation in the world right now.

My husband barely watches or reads any news. He doesn't understand why I'm nervous.

I think we should postpone it. I'm a bit nervous of being caught up in a protest, or other activity.

That’s ridiculous, did they think the attendees would be too hefty to run away?!!

I can see where @Chaiandkaafee is coming from.

At its most basic level, the conflict is Arabs versus Jews, Jews versus Arabs. You don't want to come to London in half term because you think either side could retaliate against the other with a terrorist attack in our capital. Therefore your decision IS race related.

Thank you. I was going to ask WHO in particular she is afraid of then if it is not race related? WHO does she think is going to possibly attack her or WHOSE attack is she going to get caught up in?!?!

We are just back from Paris and had a lovely time. No bother or trouble anywhere. I'm off to London next week with work.

Bad things can happen anywhere but the risks are low and life's too short to live in fear.

If your fear is actually stopping you from doing normal things like travelling and enjoying life it might be time to speak to your GO.

Pro Palestinian March in London.
On BBC 'we will turn the blood of the Israeli into a tzumani' .... this is in the UK.
Support for Hamas and suggesting people to kill. The language of terrorism.
Others will not condemn the slaughter of people at a music festival.

The rise in anti semitic attacks in London.

It's disgusting that in the UK people are allowed to promote violence and call others to it on the streets in marches.

I don't think she thinks anyone is going to attack her per se, I think she's anxious about being in London because of the stress and the claustrophobia and the (very small) risk of there being a terrorist attack.

I completely disagree with her risk assessment and I think it's in poor taste to link this to the ME situation but it's a bit of a jump to accuse her of racism.

Of course you should go.

@Glitterybee seriously? That fucking hilarious if true. Do they think there has been a Jihad declared on over weight people or something?

I think you are safe. Its Jewish people who aren't safe.

@Thepeopleversuswork that’s life. Look how many Londoners flee when their dc get to secondary age or chose private. Look at the property threads, I’ve seen areas called “stabby”! Many people particularly on MNs crow about London diversity but they often mean the diversity of an authentic bakery or delicatessen not other types of diversity.

@Inkpotlover I've not mentioned race on this thread. Just the security situation in the United Kingdom currently.

This does not make me racist. I've not said I'm scared of attacks by one group particularly. I'm not. I doubt the guy in France was affiliated with one side or the other but there are suggestions he may have been "inspired" by the Middle East situation.

I guess the question is why are the met putting extra police on. Why is the threat in France raised? Are they all racist too?

I marched against the Iraq war (look at how that turned out. 1 million innocent Iraqis dead) and I really want to attend the March today to March against a potential genocide and for peace in the Middle East. It’s ok to criticise Israel’s actions in the region. Not sure I’ll get to go. Not all attendees of the March today will be Hamas supporters. Just a note for you.

There's a really good joke in there somewhere fighting to get out 😁

Why wouldn't you go? I live in London and it's totally fine!

Been twice this week to touristy places. Utterly normal.

Very true. But people today listening and cheering a man who suggests killing, his speech was just shown on the BBC is disgusting.

Do we really want people here allowed to promote violence against other people living here.
Peaceful marches yes but these radical speakers should worry people when they are clapped and cheered.

Thank you. I was going to ask WHO in particular she is afraid of then if it is not race related? WHO does she think is going to possibly attack her or WHOSE attack is she going to get caught up in?!?!

A future terror attack is most likely to be carried out by an Islamic extremist, the 2nd biggest risk is from the Far Right. That’s factual, it’s not racism.

It will be the usual rentamob who used to be perched opposite TK Maxx plus a load more

Absolutely @FebruaryOnMyMind it should be a protest against what is happening in Palestine!

@glassyglass thats not a fact. That’s your opinion!

I never said you are being racist. I said the issue is race related, however. That's indisputable given the conflict this has arisen from.

The police are putting on 1,000 officers TODAY for the march. They're not putting them on every day.

The threat has been raised in France because there has been a terrorist attack by a lone wolf. Our terrorist attack has been raised but isn't at the same severe level yet.

I've said throughout the thread you shouldn't come if you are worried because you won't enjoy yourself.

Jonathan Hall KC, UK independent reviewer of terrorism in the UK states "he us worried when he hears people in the UK referring to terrorist activity elsewhere and invite people to do something similar then we are in the terrority of encouraging terrorism ". The people in the UK are using the language if Hamas......

Yeah that's fair and Londoners are guilty of double standards on this front. "Diversity" is often something which people celebrate until it impacts their own family's living standards.

But I do find it very noticeable that things get said about London and Londoners (for example, as you've pointed out, on threads about Cornwall) which if they were describing an ethnic group for example would be seen as an example of hate speech.

"Invasions" of Londoners to Cornwall. Can you imagine if people complained about "invasions" of particular ethnic groups to a particular part of the UK? Can you imagine how inhabitants of other cities would react if threads were started objecting to their "invading" other parts of the UK? But because we're Londoners and we're thought to be rich and callous we have to just let it wash over us.

This thread is another example of why this matters. London is very decoupled from the rest of the UK anyway but this perspective exacerbates the idea that London is a big, scary, dirty metropolis where the rule of law is not obeyed, people don't talk to one another and their kids get stabbed at school. There's so much polarisation in our society anyway, emphasising the idea that the UK capital is a horrible scary place which normal people should avoid is irresponsible.

I don't think this particular OP is trying to do this but she has absorbed the general idea that London is terrifying and to be avoided at all costs. I just find it upsetting.

The OP is afraid of crowds and unfamiliar places, so I'm inclined to agree with some PP that the trip would be a total waste of her time and money regardless of when it was.

Of course she would be posting exactly the same thing if she was planning to visit any other major city, because nobody ever singles London out as the epicentre for all evilness and catastrophe, where people routinely shove tourists under trains just for standing on the left on the escalators and being too monumentally selfish and fuckwitted to take their massive rucksacks off once on board.

I might be projecting a bit at the end there 😀

Totally but some are using to promote terrorism and calling others to do something.... very dangerous grounds and people are clapping and cheering... police must arrest those promoting terrorism here in the UK