Reports from London post-7/7 paint a picture of an unflinchingly busy city whose pulse refuses to be interrupted, at least for events that are not a cause for celebration. Prime Minister Tony Blair’s swift retort to the perpetrators and their protagonists was a clear indication that Brits will not make any allowances for those who wish to hurt them and their country.

Maybe this show of strength will be attributed to World War II; older and more experienced generations have kept and passed on their coolness. The English have been accused of lacking in emotion; if true, in times of crisis, this can clearly be an asset.

We saw more expressive reactions in Spain after the Madrid bombings — a reflection of the more passionate Spanish mentality. The absence of calls for immediate revenge and general thirst for blood gave the impression that London Bridge will not fall down.

The sentiments might have changed slightly after it was revealed that the perpetrators were British nationals; few were surprised.

An attack on London was inevitable. It is one of the most important cities in the West and a symbol for much of what the terrorist networks despise. It is also the capital of a country that has been the staunchest ally of the United States in the war on Iraq and the subsequent occupation.

Having voluntarily expatriated myself from England over the summer, I have, quite naturally, talked to my friends in London less frequently. Immediately after the attack, I was back on the phone. Like all of those who had friends and family in London on the tragic day of July 7, I was anxious to make sure that my loved ones were safe. Thankfully, I was among the lucky ones; all my friends were physically unharmed.

However, they all gave very different accounts of the atmosphere in the city after the events. One of my friends barely mentioned the attack. Instead he went on to tell how he was enjoying his summer playing polo. Someone else gave me a detailed account of how he was dramatically evacuated from the underground in Pimlico and then similarly thrown off a bus at Hyde Park Corner to continue to walk on foot; but then he went on to gossip about the colorful personalities at the office. The event of the week was that one of his colleagues had managed to set his computer on fire.

Yet another did not even talk about the attack and we only talked about the latest tales from her wedding preparations and the trouble of finding the perfect wedding dress.

One of my friends had barely missed the train that was bombed at Edgware Road and was quite shaken up. Understandably, she was talking with a low voice about migrating to France. She told me that everyone had begun to look at each other suspiciously on the underground, wondering what everyone else was up to. Another girlfriend employed the words chaos and panic; that the entire city seemed eerie and that everything seemed so very surreal.

The difference in people’s stories depends on their perception of reality. If we let the terrorists into our minds, if we let them invade not only our cities but our everyday lives; then they are winning. Whether terrorists target American soldiers in Iraq, Spanish commuters in Madrid, tourists in Bali or British citizens on their way to work, they bring a message of fear. They aim to interrupt — not only end — life. The war against terror cannot be won as it is fought now.

On the contrary, many of the measures taken are only worsening the situation. I, and many with me, do not see how the US-endorsed West Bank barrier or the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, to name but a few examples, could possibly improve sentiments and relations between Muslims and the West. The young Muslims who are so filled with hatred that they sacrifice their lives for their cause also have another message: “Listen to us.” The frustration and desperation that drives them to the extremes we see today is clearly beyond measure. As much as many dislike it, we need to address the issues and not the manifestations. We still have to prevent terrorism using every means available but we nevertheless have to listen to their message. To listen does not mean to agree. In this particular case, it is a way of gaining knowledge.

Knowledge is power.