Wednesday 22nd March was anything but just another day for a group of Bridgwater children. With great excitement students and staff at St John and St Francis school set off for London to visit the Houses of Parliament. Having been in school for an assembly just after they left the news of an incident at Westminster sparked immediate concern. I spent the rest of the day checking the school website and watching news coverage. It was a relief the next morning to hear that the children had arrived back late in the evening.
The attack on Westminster came on the day after the death of Martin McGuinness had been announced. McGuinness' funeral took place yesterday as the investigation into Wednesday's attack gathered speed. Tributes to the one time IRA commander who became Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland noted both his contribution to the peace process and his violent past. A reminder that the willingness of some individuals to kill and destroy in the name of a cause is no new phenomenon.
The sad fact is that much of the hate and violence in our world is rooted in a distorted religious perspective. From the Crusades to the present day activities of the so called Islamic State religious conflict has been a depressing fact. Wherever there are strongly held beliefs it seems there are always those who will use force to make their point.
Wednesday's terror attack shocked the nation. Ordinary people found themselves caught up in a situation beyond their control. Many offered all they could in the way of support to those around them. The emergency services handled devastating injuries with professionalism and compassion.
Finding themselves locked down in the House of Commons the children of St John and St Francis School sang hymns while their parents joined staff at the school to wait for news. As they waited food, drink and support were offered by the Salvation Army. Here at least hate and fear did not win the day.
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