With five full pages devoted the recent terrorist attacks, today’s Daily Telegraph is probably no different from other tabloids in its almost saturation coverage of recent events. When it comes to creating a climate of fear, we are pretty good at doing ourselves and don’t really need the help of disgruntled radicals.
As is normally the case however, the real stories that stand out are contained in the smaller text. The first issue revolves around the number of foreign doctors who have been arrested under terrorist laws. It would appear that checks prior to them entering this country before being employed by the NHS have been inept to say the least. Without the ability to check criminal records for overseas applicants, jobs have been given out with no idea of the recipient’s background. This issue reveals two very important concerns. Firstly, clearly the problems faced by our health service is worse than currently portrayed; if we have to allow thousands of foreign doctors through it’s doors to merely keep it going, what are we doing about training our own graduates? Secondly, why have such draconian domestic civil liberty restrictions, yet operate an open door policy when it comes to medical and other types of immigration related employment? On the one hand we welcome radicalised terrorists into the country and even give them employment, yet stop people who live here from marching on the House of Commons because Blair didn’t like to hear criticism of the Iraq war!
The Telegraph also highlights the actions of John Smeaton, and airport worker who was one of the first members of the public to tackle the Glasgow bombers when they failed in their attempt to blow themselves up. Lets get the issue out of the way before we go any further; well done Mr Smeaton, your sense of civic duty and moral obligation is worthy of honour. However, do you really need a web site set up in your name with financial pledges to buy you pints of beer! Do we really need to see you compared to Jack Bauer, the fictional character on Sky TV’s “24”. What about the paramedic who first reported the London bomb to the police, does he not deserve a pint for his vigilance? What about the first policewoman who was on the scene at the Tiger Tiger club. She talks of standing and looking into the car and seeing the obvious nature of its contents. With smoke already emerging from the doors, she said that she honestly thought she was going to die there and then. Several days after the incident, she still cannot get rid of that awful feeling (this account is true. Her parents live in Jarrow and are good friends of mine. Their daughters experience was related to me over the weekend). After looking death in the eye, should these people not be rewarded with a pint?
In reality, John Smeaton is not the issue; he an innocent member of the public who acted for the common good, and yes, also placed his own life on the line. My concern lies with the medias obsession with the sensational and creation of almost public martyrs, often to the deterrent of others around the issue who are also worthy of praise and attention. Are we not playing the same game as radical news agencies that offer praise and similar acclaim to suicide bombers?
We need to return to the real issues; why are we incapable of stopping terrorists entering this country, why do people feel the need to inflict such pain and destruction on a nation that has welcomed them, but more importantly, how can we stop them from even being in the position to mount such attacks?
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