Here are some quotes from one-man anti-terrorist squad John Smeaton. Note that these are genuine quotes.
Interviewer: "What message do you have for the bombers?"
John Smeaton: "This is Glasgow, you know, so, we'll just set about you"
Interviewer: "Can you describe what happened when you apprehended the terrorist?"
John Smeaton: "Me and other folk were just tryin' to get the boot in and some other guy banjoed him."
John Smeaton: "I see the guy get out the car... an' goes straight for the police an' ah'm like that: no chance... this isnae hapennin'."
It's worth realising that in Glasgow parlance, "no chance... this isnae happenin'" is not a statement of disbelief. It is very close to the imperative, and means that this, while perhaps happening right now, will not be happening for much longer. It is a Nietszchian imposition of will upon the world.
You have to have heard Smeaton's calm, matter-of-fact delivery to realise just how unphased he was by the whole process of tackling a would-be terrorist who is on fire, next to a car, also ablaze, containing petrol, nails and gas cylinders. A true ambassador for Scotland, up there with the lion-bashing hero of Springfield, Groundskeeper Willie. He was outside the airport, having a smoke at the time, on a break from his job as senior ramp attendant. When he saw a burning jeep protruding from the terminal, what was his thought? "I've got to get this sorted." Matter of fact; understated, and very much an ideal witness when it comes to the trial in a year or so. No wonder there is now a website dedicated to him.
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Someone has already done a side-by-side comparison of local reactions to a terrorist incident in Glasgow versus one in the USA. I love it:
America: "Oh my God! There was a man on fire, he was running about, i just ran for my life. I thought i was gonna die, he got so close to me"
Glasgow "C*nt wis running aboot on fire, so a ran up n gave him a good boot, then decked him"
America: " I just wanna get home, away from here. I just wanna get home, I thought i was gonna die"
Glasgow: " here shug, am no leaving here till am oan a f*ckin' plane!"
America: " there was pandemonium, people were running in all directions, we didn't know what was happening thought i was gonna die"
Glasgow :"F*ck this fir a kerry oan, moan we ll get a pint in"
America: " We thought he was gonna blow us all up he had a gas canister, and was trying to get into his trunk, I thought we were gonna die, I just ran for my life"
Glasgow :"a swaggered by the motor that wis on fire, and the dafty couldnae even open his boot, he wis in fire annaw so a ran up n gave him a good boot to the baws"
America: there was this huge explosion, it sounded like war, I thought i was gonna die"
Glasgow: " There wis a bang, yi know when yi throw BO basher intae a fire it wis like that"
America: " I'm too traumatized even to speak, I thought i was gonna die"
Glasgow "here mate, gies 2 minutes till a phone ma auld dear, if am gonna be oan the telly a want her tae tape it"