Silence...

We all trooped out as had been requested (or in the case of Local Governement, demanded) and the mood was quite jovial. As we stepped out onto the pavement I noticed several other buildings emptying out and again the crowd seemed in boyant mood, the sun was shining and the usual cars and busses ploughed up and down Walworth Road.And then a horn went off and the whole street became silent.

Busses, cars and taxi’s pulled over to the side of the road and a silence fell that I haven’t experienced anywhere in the world before. I’ve been places where it’s quiet but never somewhere where it was quiet by the choice of the people there. The whole of Walworth Road stood and made their presence felt. It was oddly moving.

And then I saw two women in Yashmaks who were standing on the street corner who looked nervous to put it mildly. I smiled at them as they stood on the street with us.

And then I thought, I really wish my life had subtitles. I wish I could express that I was not excluding anyone from this experience. That the only people who I stand against are fools and murderers, bigots and killers.

And above all, I would like the people who encourage and instruct young men, women and children to become suicide bombers to put their beliefs where their bombs are and do it themselves. ‘Cos I can’t think of a case where they have.