Comedy and Conscience After Terror?
A difficult decision in the aftermath of the terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue
In another deviation from my usual content, I need to reflect on what happened yesterday at the Heaton Park synagogue. We know the area well and often visit friends there. When the news first came in, we could only hope that the injuries inflicted would not be serious. In the end, our worst fears were confirmed as two people were killed, including the security guard. As I write, three people remain in hospital. I won’t provide any more detail as this has already been covered extensively. What I need to do is reflect on our personal response.
My wife and I had booked tickets for a Comedy Unleashed event in central Manchester that evening. Our first thought was that we couldn’t go. We debated both sides of the argument. Would respecting the murdered victims and their families be best served by staying home? Or would this be giving into terrorism, exactly the sort of response that terrorists are trying to instil?
In the end we decided that we would go to the event. The fact that Comedy Unleashed support free speech and provide a rare outlet for comedians cancelled by left-wing venues weighed heavily on us. It might have feltbetter if this had been a more serious event, such as one of our monthly Politics in Pubs meetings, but this was the choice on the day.
Before the event we met up in a pub with friends. One of them decided he couldn’t enjoy the comedy that night. He explained it was no reflection on the rest of us, but he just didn’t think it was the right thing to do. We completely understood his reasons and, thankfully, he also understood why we decided to attend. It’s a mark of a solid friendship group when these sorts of fundamental disagreements can be aired without rancour. If only wider society could interact this way.
The comedy night itself was very good, though it transpired that many people had been put off by the incident. I wondered whether we would hold a minute’s silence before we started but this was not to be. To be clear, I had no idea whether this would have been appropriate, and in the end the show took its normal course. There were no references to the atrocity, though one or two jokes did hit a nerve.
Our experience is just one example of the conflict between collective mourning and respect for the victims versus resistance to terrorism and the assertion of normalcy. There have unfortunately been many similar events, but this is the first time we had to make a real choice. Was it the right one? I am not sure.
What you would have done? Please do comment, particularly if you think we made the wrong decision.
We’ll be joining the Manchester Stands with Israel Rally this Sunday. We hope to see you there.
I'm really struggling with it. Yesterday my initial response was to react angrily and when I saw a local MP giving the same "we're sorry" response, I had to point out the huge increase in antisemitic incidents in the UK under their watch, I just found it so hypocritical. Of course the response from their supporters was "now is not the time" to which I can only say when is the time to face upto government inaction, after the next attack or the one after that. As to, do we carry on in the meantime, I suppose we have to, but at the same time carrying the victims in our hearts and minds. If we don't the evil people in this world win.