Shifting paradigms

[deathpixie]

So, I'm at the Underground station with CJ and Farli, and I'm looking around for a rubbish bin for the empty bottle in my hand, and when I ask, they tell me: "There aren't any in the stations."

I begin to ask why, and then I realise: it's so bombs can't be planted in them.

It's easy to forget that England has spent thirty-odd years fighting a war on terrorism. Or rather, dealing with the consequences. It's created a certain mind-set, certain habits that are accepted without thinking. You don't leave a bag sitting on a train platform or on a bus. You don't ignore the bag or parcel sitting unattended. There are warning signs on buses and trains, and I remember seeing a poster asking for information on a taxi left outside the Houses of Parliament to be provided to the police's Terrorist Squad. It's strange how small these things are, but how much significance they hold.

I've been lucky in where I was born and where I grew up. My country has never had to take such precautions.

It makes you think.

Comments

[yshyn.livejournal.com]

*tickles* I think that was me, not CJ, you were with. We were coming back from Euston? :)

Heh. . .

[yonaelka.livejournal.com]

I remember that. But quite honestly, as far as trash bins go, England isn't nearly as uptight as France. They closed down all the public trash cans. . .they're all completely sealed, the ones in the metro, and on the streets. . .They've got wire stands with green transparent plastic bags attached for your trash, and they're kind of few and far between. . .Most people, when they couldn't find a green bag, would just set their crap on top of the closed bins.