Editorial: A time to appreciate loved ones

Hawke's Bay Today News Editor James Ford. Photo / File

It seems like every other week we wake up to the news of another terror attack.

The sheer frequency makes it difficult to recall each individual attack and in what city, no matter how catastrophic it was.

I received a call from my cousin at 2am UK time on Sunday.

He'd been in the middle of Saturday's London attack and saw a young woman lying lifeless on the floor as police frantically attempted to treat her.

His mum, my aunt, described him as hysterical when he eventually made it to the safety of his home.

The images that have shot across the globe from London, Manchester, Brussels, Paris and now Melbourne, as well as many other cities in recent years, offer a brief insight into the effect of such atrocious acts.

A split millisecond of what will no doubt lead to a lifetime of trauma and horrific memories.

And then the same response follows.

Politicians condemn the attacks and landmarks throughout the world are bathed in the colours of the most recent country to fall victim to another act of terror.

The majority of us then attempt to return to some sort of normality, while knowing the lives of many others will never be the same again.

Politicians in Britain have been accused of skirting around the issue. Failing to utter the words 'Islamic extremism'.

But two words won't make any difference in ridding us of this constant threat.

We must understand the potential divide finger-pointing can needlessly cause.

Those behind these attacks do not represent the values of Islam but use it as a veil for their own vile acts.

In times like this we should take a moment to appreciate our loved ones near and far.