Armed police, no, not so much. You must remember, though, that all our police go armed as a matter of course, so the image of police carrying guns in public thoroughfares doesn't have the impact with us that it does with you. Thus, it might be partly a cultural misfire. It's entirely possible that most Americans are overlooking that as being nothing unusual.
I have read some statements from people to the effect of, "I hate the thought of riding the tube now," or "I think I'd rather walk than use public transportation." But they stand in distinct contrast to most of the reporting, which on the whole is depicting the British as being fairly calm, organized, and rational about the entire thing.
My personal impression is that the authorities are handling it calmly, and the investigations are thorough and methodical, but that doesn't make most men and women any less frightened to consider how close they could be to death every time they go outside. Probably much the same as it was here--except that, frankly, the US attacks were dramatic and unlikely to be repeated, while the British are forced to realize that their day-to-day activities are distinctly in harm's way.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2005-07-11 04:47 pm (UTC)I have read some statements from people to the effect of, "I hate the thought of riding the tube now," or "I think I'd rather walk than use public transportation." But they stand in distinct contrast to most of the reporting, which on the whole is depicting the British as being fairly calm, organized, and rational about the entire thing.
My personal impression is that the authorities are handling it calmly, and the investigations are thorough and methodical, but that doesn't make most men and women any less frightened to consider how close they could be to death every time they go outside. Probably much the same as it was here--except that, frankly, the US attacks were dramatic and unlikely to be repeated, while the British are forced to realize that their day-to-day activities are distinctly in harm's way.