DON’T look back in anger, we heard them sing.
A spontaneous outburst of the classic refrain from the song by local lads Oasis delivered in unison on Thursday after a minute’s silence by thousands of emotional Mancunians.
A magnificent tribute made all the more poignant because of the horrific circumstances behind its touching spontaneity.
An appalling, murderous assault on humanity that left 22 men, women and children dead.
Since that awful night, the decent people of Manchester, of all faiths, nationalities, ages, backgrounds, political leanings and power have gathered in the city’s St Ann’s Square.
Seeking solace, they sang as one in defiance, refusing to look back in anger for those who do us harm.
Sentiments that are fair and just.
But the reality is that this new home-bred terrorist phenomena is almost unstoppable.
We now fear when the next attack will be and worry about what type of world our children now live in and the bloody future they have to look forward to.
Terrorism can never win. By its very nature it can’t, because it has no rules, no end game.
But equally it is naive to think it can be eradicated, because it can’t.
It only takes one suicidal maniac to cause carnage.
The Home Office warn there could be as many as 6000 individuals that should be watched by our counter terrorism forces and up to 400 fully-trained jihadists that have returned from Syria and other Middle East countries who could strike at any moment.
We are told they are under close scrutiny. But then again wasn’t this week’s bomber, Salman Abedi, on the watch list?
Why are those who decided to leave the UK to fight for terror in Syria not rounded up, put on plane and sent back to Damascus to face all those other terrorists armed with guns and bombs?
Equally why are those who preach hate to their followers not on the same flight?
Every attack, every atrocity, every death, every threat, every arrest is having an insidious effect on the way we live and the freedoms we once took for granted.
Massive queues and full body searches will be the norm now at festivals, large public events and sporting occasions.
Armed police on our streets will no longer be frowned upon and we’ll probably have to get used to being searched before getting into clubs and pubs.
More bollards will be installed in front of important public buildings and spaces.
Every time the terrorist strikes, the grip on our freedoms tighten.
It’s happening already, armed police are on patrol, backed up by the army, a reminder of the very real threat that we now face.
Terror stalks our streets, and the very purest, most innocent and beautiful members of our society are targets.
Unless there is a miracle and peace breaks out in the Middle East, this is the brutal world we have created for them.
They will have to become used to suicide bombings, beheadings and all the other heinous ways these people carry out atrocities.
A world of surveillance, states of emergency and where going out is filled with fear and trepidation.
Don’t look back in anger?
Maybe we should, to rage against the stupidity of past generations.
The mistakes that have been made, the lakes of blood spilt, the millions of lives lost, the growth of terrorism, the refugee crisis, global pollution, the countries laid waste, and sigh in despair at the mess we have left for our children.
Lets hope they that don’t make the same mistakes.
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