Publication Date: 7th July 2006
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Exactly one year on...
The world changed completely in 2001.
What has since come to be classified as 'terrorism' took a new, darkly
disturbing turn on September 11th.
disturbing turn on September 11th.
I remember receiving an email from someone who addressed me as a 'Pastor' around the time, essentially asking if I thought the end of the world was nearer as a result of 9/11...
I wasn't quite sure what that meant, but macabre echoes of the horrible intentions of 9/11 hit home very hard on this day last year. Four guys strapped bombs to themselves and wreaked havok not just on the streets of London and the Underground, but across the planet.
Since then, issues that were previously extremely difficult for the government to sell to the population (the most potent examples being a national ID card scheme and the investigation of biometric identification - DNA profiling and such), are now benefitting from an almost uncontestable momentum...
As Christians, we have much to think about: how we need to act, react, engage and - crucially - be involved.
> FACT: Rightly or wrongly, some of the UK's foreign policies influence the
decision of people that would need an excuse to cause havok in this country.
I wasn't quite sure what that meant, but macabre echoes of the horrible intentions of 9/11 hit home very hard on this day last year. Four guys strapped bombs to themselves and wreaked havok not just on the streets of London and the Underground, but across the planet.
Since then, issues that were previously extremely difficult for the government to sell to the population (the most potent examples being a national ID card scheme and the investigation of biometric identification - DNA profiling and such), are now benefitting from an almost uncontestable momentum...
As Christians, we have much to think about: how we need to act, react, engage and - crucially - be involved.
> FACT: Rightly or wrongly, some of the UK's foreign policies influence the
decision of people that would need an excuse to cause havok in this country.
> FACT: families have been devasted as a result of 7/7.
> FACT: Islam is being used as something of a tool in all of this. How and what that
means will vary depending on who you talk to.
> Not fact, but my personal opinion: I can't really see a lot of high-profile Christian
response in all of this. I readily admit I might not be looking in the right places...
> FACT: Islam is being used as something of a tool in all of this. How and what that
means will vary depending on who you talk to.
> Not fact, but my personal opinion: I can't really see a lot of high-profile Christian
response in all of this. I readily admit I might not be looking in the right places...
It's 12:00 noon as I come to finish this. Big Ben has just chimed, and BBC TV is showing a montage of images from all across London on BBC 1. It's a poignant thing, this selection of people from diverse walks of life, standing in reflection. No special visual effects, no chessy sound effects or cloying mood music. Just silence as one image dissolves into another.
I catch glimpse of a woman that makes the sign of the cross over herself three times.
As late as last night I had no idea I was going to write this, but somehow I didn't want this day to pass as yet another one of those where Black Christians seem to be locked away in their own
little 'hallelujah world', with little connection with events in mainstream society. Forgive me if that sounds harsh.
Interestingly enough, it seems there are quite a few people out there that feel the same as I do. Having not spoken to him for a VERY long time, I finally get a call back from GK REAL's resident
Rap/Hip-Hop representative, KARL NOVA, and just over an hour ago I got this email, without any previous announcement, from Dr JOE ALDRED, sent (according to the heading in the body of the message, to 'PRESS/MEDIA')
I catch glimpse of a woman that makes the sign of the cross over herself three times.
As late as last night I had no idea I was going to write this, but somehow I didn't want this day to pass as yet another one of those where Black Christians seem to be locked away in their own
little 'hallelujah world', with little connection with events in mainstream society. Forgive me if that sounds harsh.
Interestingly enough, it seems there are quite a few people out there that feel the same as I do. Having not spoken to him for a VERY long time, I finally get a call back from GK REAL's resident
Rap/Hip-Hop representative, KARL NOVA, and just over an hour ago I got this email, without any previous announcement, from Dr JOE ALDRED, sent (according to the heading in the body of the message, to 'PRESS/MEDIA')
Two very different, unconnected people, one common message. I think I'll end this piece by leaving the last word to them.
Yinka Awojobi
Content Development
UK Gospel.com
Yinka Awojobi
Content Development
UK Gospel.com
BISHOP DR JOE ALDRED
A STATEMENT OF 7/7 COMMEMORATION
As we commemorate the sad anniversary of the London bombings, in memory
to those who died, with condolences to those who lost loved ones and
commiserations to those maimed and injured; may we remember also those in
Iraq who have died, lost loved ones and those maimed or injured before and
since 7/7.
Unlike us here in 'peaceful' Britain with wall-to-wall anniversary coverage, war torn Iraqis are unable to commemorate such as an annual event, since for them and inconceivably for us, this is
sadly a daily occurrence resulting from a war we chose to start 'over there'.
A good Christian ethic is to mourn with (all) those who mourn and to bring peace to all the world, not just at home.
A STATEMENT OF 7/7 COMMEMORATION
As we commemorate the sad anniversary of the London bombings, in memory
to those who died, with condolences to those who lost loved ones and
commiserations to those maimed and injured; may we remember also those in
Iraq who have died, lost loved ones and those maimed or injured before and
since 7/7.
Unlike us here in 'peaceful' Britain with wall-to-wall anniversary coverage, war torn Iraqis are unable to commemorate such as an annual event, since for them and inconceivably for us, this is
sadly a daily occurrence resulting from a war we chose to start 'over there'.
A good Christian ethic is to mourn with (all) those who mourn and to bring peace to all the world, not just at home.
about Bishop Aldred
Since 2003, Bishop Aldred has been the Chair of the Council of Black-led Churches with links
with many local and national, religious and secular organisations at grass roots and board level
He broadcasts on radio every Sunday morning, 7.00 - 8.00 AM on New Style Community Radio, Birmingham. He also appears regularly in the press and media commenting on social, religious and political matters that affect the community in general and the Black and minority ethnic
communities in particular
with many local and national, religious and secular organisations at grass roots and board level
He broadcasts on radio every Sunday morning, 7.00 - 8.00 AM on New Style Community Radio, Birmingham. He also appears regularly in the press and media commenting on social, religious and political matters that affect the community in general and the Black and minority ethnic
communities in particular
KARL NOVA - Hip-Hop artist, member of GK REAL
Today I will get up and go to work. I will get on the London underground train network
system and commute into central London like I do everyday.
Exactly this time last year 52 people woke up and were going about their business and
got killed by bombs that went off. Bombs strapped to the bodies of people like them
who took their lives. The thought of that makes me shudder. The thought of that
causes me to pause and reflect.
The thought of that makes me think "if not for the grace of God there goes I "... I say this with a mixture of guilt and thanksgiving. What kind of world do we now live in? How in the world did it come to this?
That could've been me. I was going to see a friend who lived 5 mins away from where one of
those bombs went off on a bus. I remember putting on the T.V and seeing all this on the news and being so shocked that I couldn't move for what seemed like an eternal instant.
Today I will get up and go to work. I will get on the London underground train network
system and commute into central London like I do everyday.
Exactly this time last year 52 people woke up and were going about their business and
got killed by bombs that went off. Bombs strapped to the bodies of people like them
who took their lives. The thought of that makes me shudder. The thought of that
causes me to pause and reflect.
The thought of that makes me think "if not for the grace of God there goes I "... I say this with a mixture of guilt and thanksgiving. What kind of world do we now live in? How in the world did it come to this?
That could've been me. I was going to see a friend who lived 5 mins away from where one of
those bombs went off on a bus. I remember putting on the T.V and seeing all this on the news and being so shocked that I couldn't move for what seemed like an eternal instant.
That could've been me. As if that was not bad enough a couple of weeks later a man was
chased by police in another underground station and shot to death. He was alledged to be a suicide bomber only later for the police to report that it was a case of mistaken identity. He was innocent.
That could've been me. All I can say is "if not for the grace of God there goes I..."
How come it takes death for me to appreciate life? And how soon I shove these thoughts aside as soon as I can get back into living my "normal" everyday life.
I would like to take this time to remember that my life is truly in God's hands with the new song I
have put up as a free download. For this I truly know: That could've been me.
chased by police in another underground station and shot to death. He was alledged to be a suicide bomber only later for the police to report that it was a case of mistaken identity. He was innocent.
That could've been me. All I can say is "if not for the grace of God there goes I..."
How come it takes death for me to appreciate life? And how soon I shove these thoughts aside as soon as I can get back into living my "normal" everyday life.
I would like to take this time to remember that my life is truly in God's hands with the new song I
have put up as a free download. For this I truly know: That could've been me.
about Karl Nova
LINKS
LINKS
Karl featured in a number of groups like Acappella group, Priesthood and gospel rap group Tribe of the Most High. He is currently a worship leader in House on the Rock, London Lighthouse, and part of the GEM AWARD-winning group, GK REAL
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