Thinking of London

As I sit on the train, it's hard not to think about the London subway and bus bombings that took place a short time ago. The damage looked horrendous. Dozens of ordinary people were killed and hundreds more were injured. I can't even imagine the terror they experienced. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

My first reaction upon seeing the news was disbelief. Then my stomach started to ache and my blood began to boil. Just yesterday, the city was celebrating its selection as host for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Today, the city is reeling from these brutal attacks. Such a sudden shift of events and emotions is unsettling. I only hope British officials make quick progress in their investigations and find a way to make their transit systems more secure. It's still to be seen what effect these blasts will have on the G8 Summit that has received more than the usual attention thanks to those tiny musical gatherings around the world.

Like the targeted subway cars, the train I'm riding is packed with ordinary people, most of them seemingly unaware or unconcerned about the events in London. If I said I wasn't worried, I'd be lying. Both BART and Caltrain claimed they were increasing security in response to the bombings, but there weren't any additional patrols on the station platform and there aren't any extra personnel onboard. The Powers That Be are failing to make me feel safe. I understand it would be all for show, but sometimes, people like the show.