Sadly, it appears that a man shot dead by police at a London tube station had no connection to recent terrorist incidents.
A man shot dead by police hunting the bombers behind Thursday’s London attacks was unconnected to the incidents, police have confirmed.
The man - thought to be Brazilian - died at Stockwell Tube in an incident Scotland Yard described as a “tragedy”.
Two other men have been arrested and are being questioned after bombers targeted three Tube trains and a bus.
If another innocent has died, that’s another small victory for the terrorists.
This death reveals one of the greatest weaknesses of the whole blogging thing, namely the rush to comment with only the sparsest information available. I’ve read no end of (mostly US) blogs saying something like: “Hooray for the British bobbies; they nailed a bad guy!” Are they still cheering?
Strangely, at least one is. Blogger La Shawn Barber writes
According to the AP, the British police shot the wrong man. But they had the right idea. Unfortunately, terrorist sympathizers will use this incident to spew forth new PC “arguments†about why we shouldn’t use racial/religious profiling to stop Islamofascists.
Don’t become faint of heart, Americans! Loss of innocent life is a casualty of war. Just asked Muslim terrorists, who kill hundreds of innocents every week.
I find it more than a bit disturbing that someone of LB’s Christian convictions appears unmoved by this taking of an innocent life. Of course, it is understandable that the police acted as they did. But they’ve admitted they made a tragic error. I see nothing in this incident to gloat over. As for using the fact that terrorists kill innocents as a justification for our doing it… words fail me. I thought we were supposed to be better than them.
Update: The dead man has been named as Jean Charles de Menezes, aged 27.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Eugene McKinnon 07.24.05 at 2:47 am
I have been thinking a great deal about how to respond. I cannot imagine how that Brazilian’s family must feel right now on hearing their son has been killed because of a case of mistaken identity. God help us all! The terrorists must be laughing with delight at this botch up.
I hope that God will turn the hearts of the terrorists and convince them to drop their weapons.
Bene Diction 07.24.05 at 2:50 am
That took courage to speak up Richard.
I see you were mocked.
Do the commenters have any idea what the consequences to the police officer and his family will be? He will be haunted the rest of his life.
And the family of Jean Charles de Menezes - does the mockery and bravado in a post and comment thread such as that bring them comfort?
As as for the British people? They delighted in mocking their allies.
May God forgive their ignorance, for there is nothing like Christ in that childish noise.
Joel Thomas 07.24.05 at 4:35 am
It is extremely rare for me to question whether someone is a Christian; I certainly never pronounce judgment on the matter of salvation. I will say however, that I find very little in LB’s writing that expresses Christian convictions.
I do find it interesting that among the “10 Christians blogs” there is frequent anti-foreign sentiment among those hosted by Americans. One of the ten, Jeremy Pierce defends both slavery and the execution of gays as Biblically just, and LB defends the destruction of Mecca. “10 Christian blogs” is certainly doing nothing to advance the cause of global Christian unity.
I’m sometimes jibed for “ranting” — perhaps often fairly — but LB seems to have some serious “issues.” I read her site now and then but haven’t left a comment in a long time. As she herself says, she isn’t much interested in dialogue, only in advancing her positions.
Richard 07.24.05 at 7:38 am
Mr Menezes hsdn’t been named when I went to bed last night. I’m so sad this morning. I’ve just read elsewhere, “If he was so innocent, why was he running away.” Plenty of compassion there, then.
I’m not questioning La Shawn’s faith, Joel. But I do question the use she puts it to. Unfortunately, she seems to have closed the comments on the linked post so I can’t even attempt a conversation. Not that I think it would have got me very far.
John 07.25.05 at 4:44 pm
LB gets on my nerves because she deletes comments that even slightly disagree with her — calling them ‘trolls’. I haven’t read her blog in months. And I don’t plan to in the future.
Richard 07.25.05 at 10:56 pm
She does have, to my mind, a (ahem!) slightly bizarre attitude to her comments. I mean, why have ‘em if you’re not interested in debate? But I do read her site regularly and comment occasionally. Funnily enough, I was asked earlier today why I bother. I didn’t have a rational answer.
Joel Thomas 07.26.05 at 1:59 am
And why does LB bother to repeatedly state how much she doesn’t care what other people think of her unless maybe she really does?
Bene Diction 07.26.05 at 11:10 am
Since you are one of the few bloggers not banned at LaShawn’s Richard, what if you asked her to email a post for connexions on something she’d like to talk about?
It might be an interesting experience for her to have an opportunity to post in another country without fear of repercussion or a need to be combative or popular. It might help address the acceptance issue Joel mentions above for her.
Richard 07.26.05 at 4:24 pm
That’s an interesting idea BD…
Albertanator 07.27.05 at 6:44 am
Actually I am more concerned with the gutlessness of some of the responses here then with LB’s common sense regarding this matter!!
She said nothing that was insensitive in the least but directed her concern at the vile left that will use this accident to curb the police in the UK from doing their job!!!
Again is is you libs that have to grow up and get some guts……Islam is out to destroy you and will happily slit your throat from ear to ear…..
I don’t know how many 9-11’s or 7/7’s it will take to awaken the dead left that we are in grave peril……..for that matter, Islam’s bloody 1400 year history and teachings of Muhammed should be enough to scare the holy hell out of us……….but the weak and wobbly here can only be concerned about the allegeded crassness of LB’s comments…
Again, it reflects badly on you people……not the clear concise thinking of LB’s……
Methinks its time to admit for you people to see that MultiCULTurism is a total failure and for all of you to brush up on Islamic teaching and history…..think Mein Kampf but on a larger scale …… Do the names of Lepanto, Vienna, Tours and many others not rouse you from your deadly slumber???
Grow up people……its only going to get worse for the English Isle as it is for all of us in the West………either be a useful idiot dhimmi or realize that Islam is the enemy just like its cousins of Marxism and Nazism previous!!
Richard 07.27.05 at 10:16 am
Thanks for the thoughts, Albertanator (aka “Proud Albertan”?) You’re welcome. I don’t agree with you. But I don’t have the energy to argue this morning. Let’s just say you’re wrong and leave it there.
Albertanator 07.27.05 at 7:57 pm
Great debate…………..I’m interested in one that claims to be a ‘christian’ yet can be so blind???
Pray tell…..do explain?
Richard 07.27.05 at 10:47 pm
I wasn’t trying to debate “Albertanator”. I explained that. But I think I’ve made my position pretty clear here and elsewhere. You assert that Islam itself is the enemy. I don’t accept that. One of us is wrong.
I think it’s you.
It’s late & I’m tired. This post, ironically also kicked off from a post by La Shawn, says a bit more.