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Those BombsDateline: 10th July, 2005When I learned on Thursday of the atrocities perpetrated in London, my first - and, I think, most natural - reaction was to reject totally the idea of doing any updating of the BTG. It seemed to me that the idea of even thinking about theatre when people were killed and injured in such a barbaric fashion was totally abhorrent - how petty in such circumstances to think that theatre has any importance. But on reflection I thought, yes it has importance, for it is a part of the way of life that the criminals concerned are trying to destroy. For that is the ultimate aim of the al-Qaeda fanatics who, according to most reports, are behind the attacks. Their tactics are aimed at making us so afraid that normal daily life will be disrupted. The idea of a free and open society is anathema to them and if we were to clamp down on freedom of movement, of thought and of expression, then they would have gained a victory. In the same way, if we allow these horrendous attacks to turn us against the huge majority of normal, peace-loving Muslims in this country (some of whom were victims of the attacks), that too would be a victory for the terrorists. This week we have a review of Robin Soan's Talking to Terrorists which has just finished a national tour and has now opened at the Royal Court. In it Soans gives a voice to many people who have been in some way touched by terrorism, from victims to the terrorists themselves. He does this so that we can better understand the complexities of what terrorism is and why terrorists do what they do. It is inconceivable that such a play could be produced in a country ruled by the kind of fanatics who undertake acts of terrorism, but an open society like ours actually encourages such debate. We must keep it that way, no matter what the pressure. To do otherwise would be to turn us into them. So, although we mourn for those who died and have the deepest sympathy for their friends and relations, although we feel for those who have been injured or traumatised by the events of Thursday, we will continue to report on theatre, to review productions, to live a normal life no matter what the threat. To do anything else is to let the terrorists win and we must never do that.
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