# London Mayor Says Terrorism Is 'Part And Parcel Of Living In A Big City' **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 6, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318 "2017-06-06T22:55:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/41 "2017-06-07T03:25:49Z")
It’s all happening just like the gypsy woman said! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/42 "2017-06-07T03:30:40Z")
So, to be clear, you’re saying that residents of big cities _shouldn’t_ prepare themselves against terrorism? Why would you want people to be unprepared? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/43 "2017-06-07T03:36:39Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > I’m not a scholar of Islam, or Shira Law, which shockingly has 80+ courts in the UK, but you seldom if ever see a Muslim speak out against what they view as Jihad. Okay, I’m going to make an attempt here. First, it’s Sharia not Shira. Second, they’re not actual courts. They have no legal power. They’re councils. The only people who appear before them are people who voluntarily agreed to do so. They are limited by British law and cannot do anything which contradicts British law. Third, plenty of Muslims have spoken out against terrorism and continue to do so. Including Sadiq Khan. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/44 "2017-06-07T03:54:52Z")
Christ…has a single post in this thread been on topic?? Wait. Mine isn’t either. “Now i said it. I said it again” ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/45 "2017-06-07T03:58:15Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Christ…has a single post in this thread been on topic?? Well I thought the original topic was basically slapped down about 3 posts in, when it was pointed out it was simply a misquote / out of context quote + “B-b-but he’s a Muslim!” ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/46 "2017-06-07T04:04:55Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Christ…has a single post in this thread been on topic?? > > Wait. Mine isn’t either. “Now i said it. I said it again” And we didn’t even get to the recipes yet. Anyone on for a [Halal Snack Pack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halal_snack_pack)? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/47 "2017-06-07T04:25:12Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Is this an outrage or did he have to say this to keep his political base? No and no. Why would you think this is the case? London, Paris and New York are prime terrorist targets by virtue of their sheer size and cultural significance. They are major tourist destinations as well. Attacking Des Moines, Iowa, just doesn’t have the same impact. This should surprise no one. More broadly big cities are going to be a more target rich environment making them preferable for terrorist attack. So yeah, being prepared for terrorism (which was part of his actual quote) is just part of good city-sense. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/48 "2017-06-07T04:42:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So, to be clear, you’re saying that residents of big cities _shouldn’t_ prepare themselves against terrorism? Damn right. Any preparation is an admission that there may be terrorism, which is unacceptable, defeatist and frankly means you are on the terrorist’s side. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/49 "2017-06-07T07:57:21Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > No and no. > > Why would you think this is the case? > > London, Paris and New York are prime terrorist targets by virtue of their sheer size and cultural significance. They are major tourist destinations as well. Attacking Des Moines, Iowa, just doesn’t have the same impact. > > This should surprise no one. > > More broadly big cities are going to be a more target rich environment making them preferable for terrorist attack. > > So yeah, being prepared for terrorism (which was part of his actual quote) is just part of good city-sense. The quote was very much political though. Khan is not as bad as painted, but my god he is a typical centre left politician of the Blair, Bill Clinton variety. Khan is Mayor of one of the largest Islamic constituencies in the Western world. He has attempted to straddle all his bases during his political career. His statement was not an outrage, neither was it profound. It was imo vacuous. It was an attempt to show the world that “we’re all in this together”. Only in time will he be proven to be correct or proven to be a buffoon. I do think that until recently Khan was certainly soft on Islamic extremism(for his own political career) but he himself is no extremist. He is worse than that; he is Blairite in his level of political opportunism. If in doubt assume any quote from Khan is a form of triangulation. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/50 "2017-06-07T08:32:26Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > The quote was very much political though. Khan is not as bad as painted, but my god he is a typical centre left politician of the Blair, Bill Clinton variety. Khan is Mayor of one of the largest Islamic constituencies in the Western world. He has attempted to straddle all his bases during his political career. His statement was not an outrage, neither was it profound. It was imo vacuous. It was an attempt to show the world that “we’re all in this together”. Only in time will he be proven to be correct or proven to be a buffoon. I do think that until recently Khan was certainly soft on Islamic extremism(for his own political career) but he himself is no extremist. He is worse than that; he is Blairite in his level of political opportunism. If in doubt assume any quote from Khan is a form of triangulation. That’s practically a job description for the Mayor of London, though. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/51 "2017-06-07T08:32:30Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Now he says there is no reason to be alarmed? What a load. Kinda speaks for itself, these three sentences. :rolleyes: You know, we don’t have to look back very far to find a mass shooting in the USA that was more deadly than the london attacks. Didn’t get quite the same news coverage, because it wasn’t “terrorism”, but rather just mundane, everyday gun violence. But the reality is, sometimes crazy people get their hands on deadly weapons, or turn everyday objects into deadly weapons, and go on a rampage. Your odds of dying in a terrorist attack are substantially worse than your odds of getting murdered by some random psycho in Detroit. EDIT: less than a week. [Mississippi mass shooting on May 27 was deadlier than London.](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/06/05/mississippi_mass_shooting_on_may_27_was_deadlier_than_london.html) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/52 "2017-06-07T08:39:19Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Regarding the subject of this thread, I work in NYC and please believe me when I say that being prepared for a terrorist attack is part and parcel of living in a big city. I live in Tel Aviv and I agree with this sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/53 "2017-06-07T08:41:06Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Several European governments have made it clear to their citizens that criticizing European migrant policies or migrants is criminally off-limits and may lead to arrest, prosecution and even convictions. Although these practices constitute police state behavior, European governments do not stop there. They go still further, by ensuring that Islam, in general, is not criticized either. > [@bobot](#): > > I’m going to request a cite for this fearmongering panic before I believe it to be true. Can you point me to an actual government policy concerning this? Thanks, I understand it may take a while, a long time, like even really long, I get it. Let me know. I don’t know often it happens, but here is an example, a British man arrested for publicly quoting a book by Winston Churchill that criticized Islam. > **[tollbit-host.com](https://tollbit-host.com/news/uknews/crime/10792895/Election-candidate-arrested-over-Churchill-speech.html)** > > Find information, resources and relevant links for tollbit-host.com. This domain may be for sale. The passage he likely quoted can be found here: [Winston Churchill on Islam | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/churchillislam.asp) Most European countries have mostly free speech, but they often don’t have a constitutional guarantee of it like our First Amendment, so they can pass laws such as banning Holocaust denial in Germany. Some have “hate speech” laws but I don’t know what the extent of them is. In America I see the left often describing any criticism of immigration, Islam or feminists as hate-speech, insinuating that they want it banned. Here’s a page on the subject, I’m not gonna take time to read it all right now. [Middle East Forum – Analysis, Reports & News | MEF - Middle East Forum](http://www.legal-project.org/issues/european-hate-speech-laws) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/54 "2017-06-07T09:04:29Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > His statement was not an outrage, neither was it profound. It was imo vacuous. It was an attempt to show the world that “we’re all in this together”. Only in time will he be proven to be correct or proven to be a buffoon. Which particular statement, and what aspect of it could lead to him being proven a buffoon? ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/55 "2017-06-07T09:04:41Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I have little use for Khan, but what’s he supposed to say? Since you are not a Londoner, should you have a use for the Mayor of London? do you need help looking for the right wing murders for balance? > [@](#): > > It’s impossible to prevent all terrorism in London (or Paris or New York or Toronto or…). Even so, the chances of dying in a terror attack in any of those cities is mighty low. If Khan’s basic message is, “London is still quite safe, but security will never be 100%,” well, he’s right. Yes it was exactly that statement in the very British ‘Keep Calm, Carry On’ tradition, which it seems some slice of a certain kind of Americans only like in the theory on trivalizing t-shirts, but prefer otherwise in actual fact the hysteria and the reality TV show theatrics reactions. > [@Alessan](#): > > I live in Tel Aviv and I agree with this sentiment. Exact, between Paris and Casablanca and Tunis… ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/56 "2017-06-07T09:05:20Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > The quote was very much political though. Khan is not as bad as painted, but my god he is a typical centre left politician of the Blair, Bill Clinton variety. Khan is Mayor of one of the largest Islamic constituencies in the Western world. He has attempted to straddle all his bases during his political career. His statement was not an outrage, neither was it profound. It was imo vacuous. It was an attempt to show the world that “we’re all in this together”. Only in time will he be proven to be correct or proven to be a buffoon. I do think that until recently Khan was certainly soft on Islamic extremism(for his own political career) but he himself is no extremist. He is worse than that; he is Blairite in his level of political opportunism. If in doubt assume any quote from Khan is a form of triangulation. tbh, he has personally helped projects I have run so I am a little biased. I think what you describe is an astute politician with finely tuned antennae - in which case I agree. What is interesting though is he is confident and trusting in his grounding as a London born, working class, first generation, highly educated citisen, and he will lead and not follow when appropriate. His instincts have been right and I think the population know that. There is absolutely nothing false or fake about him - he just doesn’t need another persona. He could be Mayor for a very, very long time. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/57 "2017-06-07T09:06:36Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > I don’t know often it happens, but here is an example, a British man arrested for publicly quoting a book by Winston Churchill that criticized Islam. > > [Election candidate arrested over Churchill speech](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10792895/Election-candidate-arrested-over-Churchill-speech.html) > The passage he likely quoted can be found here: [Winston Churchill on Islam | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/churchillislam.asp) For the sake of completeness; although Paul Weston (the “British man” in your example) was indeed arrested, no legal action was taken against him: > **[No action against Euro candidate Paul Weston over Islam remarks](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27809890)** > > Police say they will take no further action against a man arrested after making a speech in Winchester about Islam. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/58 "2017-06-07T09:19:16Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I live in Tel Aviv and I agree with this sentiment. Ditto for me in Paris. It happens from time to time, it’s been happening for centuries and it won’t stop. You don’t let it bring you down and get on with your life. What else are you supposed to do ? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/59 "2017-06-07T09:21:20Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > I don’t know often it happens, but here is an example, a British man arrested for publicly quoting a book by Winston Churchill that criticized Islam. According to your cite he was arrested on suspicion of religious/racial harassment. Even in the US speech that may incite immediately violence can be subject to sanction. From what little I know, I doubt that this British guy could (validly) have been arrested for what he did, if he’d done it in the US. But the distinctions are very fine. And he certainly wasn’t arrested for “criticizing European migrant policies or migrants”. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/60 "2017-06-07T10:40:46Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Which particular statement, and what aspect of it could lead to him being proven a buffoon? I did not say the statement alone could prove him a buffoon. I specifically mentioned his admirable attempt at promoting togetherness. I believe continued terrorist attacks in London _may_ prove his ideology and policies outright idiocy. It’s bit like this tweet(in the link below) of Khans from last year. Last year this tweet looked rather inspiring, a year later it looks less so. Five to ten years from now, if London is relatively peaceful, Khan’s policies will be proven to have been worth following through on. However, if London is suffering under a mid-level Islamic inspired terrorist campaign then Khan’s(and others) reputation will be under great pressure. If it’s suffering from a high level terrorist campaign then his reputation will be in tatters. Only time will tell. [http://rebrn.com/re/this-tweet-from-sadiq-khan-mayor-of-london-hasnt-aged-well-3274764/](http://rebrn.com/re/this-tweet-from-sadiq-khan-mayor-of-london-hasnt-aged-well-3274764/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318.md?page=4)