Sunday People

Love tops revenge

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AS n news of the Manchester atta attack broke on Monday, hun hundreds of thousands of us expressed grief and h horror on social media. That’s how we do it now. We po post “RIP” to those who’ve died an and say our thoughts and prayers ar are with their loved ones. W We share the hashtags and slogan gans that seem to unite us in mutua tual emotion because we “have no words words”. It’s become a ritual – albeit an understand­ableunders and heartfelt one – because te terror attacks are so sickeningl­y fam familiar. But neverneve has the phrase “no words” beenbe more apt. What that cowa cowardly suicide bomber did was u unspeakabl­e. Targeti Targeting innocent children is an ev evil beyond ordinary express expression. Yet the people of Manch Manchester found a way of speaking for us all – through simple acts of kindn kindness that were extraordin­ary. Th The rough sleeper shrugging off his h heroic efforts to help the injured say saying simply “homeless people hav have a heart too”. The Sikh tem temples and multi-faith centres tak taking in stranded gig goers. The Muslim imam helping his 9393-year-old Jewish neighbour to ama memorial so they could pray together. The cafes and bars offering “free bre brews for emergency services”. The youngs youngsters offering “free hugs” to I ENJOYED the Chelsea Flower Show this week – on TV and from the comfort of my sofa.

Because I’m a fantasy gardener, dreaming of velvety lawns and beautiful borders while neglecting three wilting plants on my patio.

I’ve also had the odd fantasy about lovely Monty Don giving my herbaceous border a gentle forking.

But now Kelly blooming Brook is trying to weedle her way into his affections. The former pin-up claims passers-by. And the thousands at the vigils, united in a silence that spoke volumes. Mancunians knew the only way to deny terrorists victory is to meet hatred with love. That We Love Manchester logo with its big red heart summed up their spirit.

But then images appeared on Twitter of a 500lb bomb to be dropped on IS from an RAF Typhoon jet based in Cyprus. The air crew had drawn a heart on the side with the message: “Love From Manchester.”

An RAF source said: “We understand the sentiment.” And so do I – but that message flew in the face of the one Manchester had been sending out all week. Of course we are enraged, sickened, frightened and despairing at so much senseless bloodshed.

We want to see the fanatical monsters wiped out – and I fully support Nato-backed air strikes on IS targets. But revenge is the bitter, destructiv­e emotion that the terrorists want to evoke in all of us. And the message on that bomb used Manchester’s heart as a symbol of vengeance – not the much-more powerful force of love.

On Thursday the whole nation expressed its grief and horror with a minute’s silence in memory of the 22 victims. In Manchester people of all faiths and none hugged each other and wept together.

At the end a voice began singing Oasis’s Don’t Look Back In Anger. One by one the crowd joined in and it swept through the city centre on a wave of emotion.

The right words to respond to unspeakabl­e evil. she’s a green-fingered goddess who loves getting dirty in the garden – and wants to do it on telly.

“Me and Monty Don would be a good presenting combo,” gushes the 37-yearold model-turned-actress.

“And if I undo a button on my boiler suit I might increase the viewers too.”

Thankfully Monty has already got a co-presenter – his dog Nigel.

So buxom Kelly will have to find another partner for her naughtycul­ture.

What about Alan Titsmarsh?

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