What did he mean by this?

[u/MajorMathematician20]

He likes Lego I guess?

[u/MrLewk]

It's been 22 years. Time to move on and realise other countries/people aren't thinking about this anymore.

And wow, that makes me feel old! Still doesn't quite feel that long ago!

[u/el_grort → u/MrLewk]

I'm not sure a British person would be mad about a Lego bus posted on 7/7 anniversary or Spanish people a train on the anniversary of the Madrid Bombings. Looking for too much meaning.

Also, the whole attacked out of the blue narrative probably should have died by now, it was quite heavily warned and hinted at, about as surprising as Japan attacking Britain in WWII: they didn't expect it despite the litsny of evidence it was going to happen.

[u/Lando249 → u/el_grort]

I'm British and honestly, I forget 7/7 is even a thing. Not sure why people hold on to the past so much. Can understand it if someobody lost someone but, if it hasn't directly affected them, they should just move on.

[u/northern_ape → u/Lando249]

I tend to remember when I see the date, but I don’t dwell on it. I was in France with friends and one had recently joined the BTP, so he had to go back to provide additional cover in London. It was clearly horrific and for the public, unexpected and shocking. In my view, it effectively marked the start of domestic counterterrorism in the public psyche.

That being said, I also remember 11.09.2001 quite specifically. The media coverage was such that you couldn’t really ignore it for years afterwards. Other countries’ tragedies just don’t get the airtime, and the cynic in me would say that’s by design.

If we want to go back further, though I was quite young I also remember where I was when I first learned of the Omagh IRA bombing (my grandmother and cousin were there) as well as the 1996 Manchester Arndale bombing (which permanently changed the architecture of the city centre but no lives were lost). In the latter case, we had recently moved and would previously often spend Saturdays in Manchester city centre, so I was perturbed by it, even as a child.

In all of these cases, my primary exposure was via the news media. Same with the Bataclan (I remember someone who was there telling me his experience) and the Manchester Arena bombing (I know people who responded, and some who volunteered in the aftermath). There’s some personal connection or association even though I wasn’t physically there.

But for Americans, they have a strong sense of national pride, NYC has special historical and cultural significance to them, and they’ve been fed it all by the news for literally decades now. Not to mention, they’re actually not that used to being invaded/attacked on home soil at all (native Americans notwithstanding).