EVERY time I go to see a band, I’m full of excitement, anticipating a great evening, hoping my favourite songs will be sung and that I get a good view.
Those thoughts would have been shared by everyone turning up at the Manchester Arena on Monday hoping to see a great show from Ariana Grande.
Nervous parents would have been accompanying excited children to the concert, while others waited outside to pick up their children to take them home safely afterwards, hearing the details of the show over and over. It’s something that happens all across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. Excited young people experiencing their first concert, concerned parents hoping they’ll be OK.
However, the events of Monday night will have affected the way everyone views concerts – and other public gatherings – in the future.
The bomber targeted a concert that was primarily aimed at a younger audience.
The impact of this attack will live forever, not just in the memories of those who lost someone, but also those who were injured and those who did their best to help people affected.
While someone highlighted the worst of human nature – deliberately setting out to kill and maim as many people as possible – the contrast could be seen in the actions of those who rushed to help. Emergency workers such as police and ambulance staff ran into the arena looking to help anyone they could while, to be honest, most of us would have ran the other way.
They tried to save as many lives as possible or to give comfort to those who were suffering or even dying. Their own personal safety was a secondary issue.
Local people in the area also tried to help in any way they could. There were reports that hospital staff turned up on their days off to help treat the injured.
The same public services, from the police to firefighters, to hospital and ambulance staff, who have suffered under Tory austerity were in the front line when it came to responding to what happened on Monday night. The same public- service staff who have been trying to fight against cuts to their wages, living standards and the services that they provide to the public.
All of that was put aside as they put the welfare of people caught up in the Manchester bombing first.
The terror threat has been increased and while the UK Government have brought troops on to the streets in some places, it is notable that this isn’t happening in Scotland.
Whereas the SNP Scottish Government has protected police numbers here, in the rest of the UK armed troops have to fill in the gaps caused by cuts to the police force, cuts implemented by the former home secretary – Theresa May.
An attack that was meant to divide a city ended up bringing it closer together as everyone tried to help in any way they could to bring comfort to those involved in the attack. Taxi drivers offered free lifts to hotels and hospitals, hotel and guest house owners opened their doors to anyone needing a place to rest. Without any pre-planning or organisation, the city of Manchester rallied round to do what it could to help everyone caught up in Monday night’s nightmare.
Cities, towns and communities across the UK and the rest of the world started to show their support for Manchester as flags were lowered and tributes laid.
Quite rightly, all political campaigning was put on hold.
Who could bear to listen to politicians bickering when families were still waiting for confirmation if their loved ones had survived. However, it was also important to have the campaign start again. The aim of such attacks is to disrupt the ordinary life in the area targeted. Anything less than a return to normality is a victory for the bomber.
An attack that aimed to divide ended up uniting people not just in grief but also in a determination not to be bowed by such an atrocity.
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