On the Tube to Russell Square on Friday I found myself looking around for abandoned packages and people looking suspicious. But it was the glares of others which I found disturbing – staring at my average Asian face and my orange rucksack. It is unfortunate that what has happened will undermine the atmosphere of trust and tolerance that exists between the numerous communities living in London. Born in Leeds, I lived in Saudi Arabia as a child and it is the restrictions that were placed upon us that I remember most. Freedom is a privilege that we enjoy here in the UK. Even compared to our European neighbours and North America, Indians in the UK can live as in India, Mexicans as in Mexico, and so on. Tolerance has proven to be more important in this country than integration. It is only an advanced, confident society that does not require its inhabitants to integrate to uniformity, and can tolerate many different cultures. I sincerely hope that these values are not replaced by suspicion. As a medical student I hope one day to be able to contribute something positive to society. As an individual I hope I can spread these values. The vast majority of Asians I believe share my ambition.
Anil Abeyewickreme, Bromley, Kent As a New Yorker who witnessed the attacks on 9/11, I am sure Londoners will get on with their lives. Two weeks after 9/11, I went with 50,000 others to the first baseball game back at Yankee Stadium. People asked: "Aren't you afraid?" Maybe in the back of the mind there was a little fear but we loved going to Yankee Stadium and nothing would stop us. Two weeks later at the end of a play at the Roundabout Theatre, the cast and the audience applauded each other as to say: "We are here." I work across from Ground Zero so every day I"m reminded of what happened but I live my life the way I did before 9/11 and Londoners will as they did before 7/7. Richard Weksburg, New York
I was born and grew up in Orleans, south of Paris. I did my BA in Caceres and my MA in Cordoba, Spain and worked in finance in Bologna, Italy, for one year and here I am now in London, where I have been living for the past three years. I worked in the City, and now teach languages in a multicultural language school that pretty much reflects the diversity and tolerance that exist in London, and I love it. It's been two days since these evil monsters have struck and I don't know how to describe this feeling, but I feel knocked out, quite depressed and scared of what's going to happen to this city I adore. But whatever my feelings are, I am not ready to give in, and yesterday I went out to dance salsa as I usually do every Friday. It was strange and sad to see all the clubs and the West End empty, but tonight I will salsa again, and Tuesday, and next weekend... Whatever they'll do, I shall not give up and the spirit of London shall prevail. Rachid El Gomri, London
Definitely not. The shock and horror will last for a few months, but it will wear off. Of course, it will be different for the relatives of the victims. A slow process of normalisation is what we experienced in Madrid last year. At first the whole city was in the grip of fear. Commuters were reluctant to use public transport, and even cinemas, theatres and restaurants saw a severe decline in customer numbers. Gradually everything went back to normal. Security was hightened and other attacks were surely avoided. However, the train bombings, as they took place on the eve of a general election, negativelly influenced voters, who, in typical Spanish self-destructive fashion, voted for an irresponsible candidate. Not only did he rush to break the alliance with the US and the UK, but his cabinet also eased immigration laws, thus contributing to the infiltration of our society by potential terrorist groups. I don't think that Blair or successive British governments will make the same gross mistakes. Jesus Cora, Madrid, Spain
My mother lived in London during the Blitz, was terrified for years but survived and looks back now with great fondness at the spirit and cameraderie that united Londoners then. When I was a teenager living in London the IRA did their best to disrupt and terrorise us. With the bolsheyness of youth, I used to walk along Oxford Street and Regent Street the day after another rubbish bin exploded - my only way of putting two fingers up at them. Now I am older and I see London going through it again I am proud to say I'm British and a Londoner. Keep your chins up and don't waiver in your determination to succeed in being the most stoic, bloody-minded and determined of people. The rest of the world are watching and we are so proud of you. Stacey Lyons, Cairns, Australia
During the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, one thing stood out in all the atrocity and carnage. A New Yorker turned back to the camera, gave the thumbs-up sign and bravely, jauntily, said: "It's still New York, baby!" And I say to you: "You're still London. One of the greatest cities in the world." Thumbs up as you continue your daily routine. I've been to London and the surrounding area twice for extended visits. If anybody can weather this, you can. Marilyn Watson, Florence, AL, USA
During the Blitz when London was bombed just about every night, people "got used to it" and learned to live with it. They recovered, cleaned up the mess and it was pretty much business as usual the next day. The IRA mainland campaign did not break Londoners' (or anyone else's) morale, so why should today's bombers succeed? Imagine how they feel in Baghdad - those people (i.e. the normal non-insurgent residents) have to cope with sporadic car and suicide bombings and shootings every single day, but life must go on regardless. Whether in London or Baghdad, one cannot cocoon oneself away from what is happening around you. Recent incidents and the seemingly perpetual future threats are a sad fact of modern life, as are murders rapes, drug-induced stabbings and mindless assaults, etc. Whatever the "rights and wrongs", causes, etc were, I'm afraid that we are all going to just have to accept the situation the way it is and learn to adapt and survive. Gary Kearns, Kuwait
After watching the people of London on the news yesterday, I have no doubt that they will continue on with their lives as "normally" as possible. They were calm, determined and efficient. One day, hopefully soon, God will put a stop to the horrific things people do to one another and we can finally live in a world with peace. Until then, please know that many Americans share your grief and that our prayers are with you all. Sharon O'Malley, Sheboygan, USA
The English don't bow to terrorists, and if they want us to be harder on Muslims and create divisions within our happily tolerant society as a result of this then they're sorely mistaken. They can take their agenda and file it where the sun does not shine, for London is going to carry on as usual. Those who speak of "the enemy within" should be careful what they wish for, as no-one wants some kind of MacCarthyist state of fear and suspicion based on skin colour. These groups are a tiny, hardcore group who have perverted the mainstream Islamic faith to their own oppressive ends and do not represent the vast majority of Muslims. We neither have nor want the reckless passion of some Americans and will persevere as a democratic, rational and peaceful country. I hope and trust Mr Blair will reflect this noble history. Peter Target, London
As an Englishman living in the USA I was horrified when I was told what had happened in London. But knowing the "English way", and in particular the "London way", I was clear in my mind that life would continue as it did before. We must continue to fight these terrorists wherever they raise their evil faces, but we should also all take time to grieve over the loss we have had. We will triumph over these people but it will take time and we must be strong. Let the resilience of the British public be a guide to the rest of the civilised world. Jason Bardwell, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
Will these senseless attacks change London and Londoners? Of course... for a time. Just as have increasingly tense world situations changed all of us. But London will soon be back to its charming self, if a bit more cautious. Will I return to London? Of course. Regina Dabbs, Kenosha, WI, USA
While my sympathies are obviously with all those who have suffered and their relatives, and while I am so relieved that no-one I am close to was involved in these atrocities, we must shape our actions and response taking account of the relative magnitude of bombings in London. There is an old saying: don't throw the baby out with bathwater. There is no need to radically change the way we go about our daily lives unless the immediate future reveals we are under sustained attack. It is now in the hands of the authorities to plan and implement measures over the next few years that will make it more difficult for terrorists to infiltrate our society, live amongst us and destroy our way of life. Keith Downer, London
Living, as I do, in the south-western suburbs of Greater London, I see no reason to alter my daily way of life. Not because of any kind of bravado, but because I was born into a world of bombs in 1941. On my way to nursery school it was not uncommon for my mother to lead me off the pavement into the road to avoid a pile of rubble where, the day before, a house had stood. The United Nations was created to prevent a repetition of all that, but Bush and Blair invaded Iraq without a UN mandate. If the leading member states of the UN give a two-fingered salute to international law, why should terrorists be expected to uphold it? Edmund Burke, Kingston-upon-Thames
