The London Riots
by Steve
In 1987 Margaret Thatcher said, “There is no such thing as society”. Over the past few nights her declaration has finally come true. The rioting and looting in London and elsewhere has been on an unprecedented scale. Even if only for a few hours, society broke down. And there is a very real risk that it might happen again tonight, and the next night, and the next night.
These are Thatcher’s, and Major’s and Blair’s Children, terrorising the streets. Over the last thirty years we have been in thrall to the cult of the individual. The welfare state and our public services have been attacked. Communities have had the heart ripped out of them, all while the mantra of the Individual and putting yourself first is perpetuated.
These events are essentially Looking After Number One taken to its logical conclusion. You want something, you take it. You don’t want something, you destroy it.
This has also become a world where irresponsibility is tolerated, rewarded even. If you are a banker you can take as many risks as you like, trample over as many lives as you like, and you will still get bailed out when it all goes wrong. And you are free to carry on as if nothing has happened. If you are a politician you can lie, cheat and steal, and still get your job back when it all blows over. Theft is legitimised. There are no consequences. This is the world we live in.
And wouldn’t those billions of pounds we gave to the banks come in handy now? Yet, throwing money at this situation won’t solve it. You can’t just build a few youth clubs/borstals (delete according to political preference) and hope it all goes away. There is something fundamentally wrong with society that needs fixing. The rioters and looters may have broken society overnight, but they are essentially the symptom of a wider malaise.
We need society. We need communities. We can’t always put ourselves first. We need a world where there are consequences. Where you don’t just get bailed out.
There are no simple answers, and if we are foolish enough to think there are, then we’ll see this happen again and again. Politicians need to see beyond the Middle England that in a distorted voting system is Kingmaker. They need to address the inequalities in this country, and the moral bankruptcy of its Establishment.
Today, and over the next few days, we need to see strong leadership. This doesn’t necessarily mean sending in the army, or curfews, or any other draconian measures. It means reassuring the public, raising morale, inspiring confidence and bringing communities closer together.
I have yet to see such leadership. But we need to see real, substantial change. And it needs to start now. I don’t want another night living in fear as all the towns around me are attacked and looted. I want to be proud of London. I want to be proud of my community, and proud of society.
Well put indeed. The kind of restraint and reflection you show in making your points despite being surrounded by the breakdown of society is impressive. It’s too bad those on the streets and those in charge don’t seem to be exhibiting much of any similar qualities.
Hope tonight is a quiet one. . .
LikeLike
Wow. It’s so interesting to hear it from someone living it as opposed to what we see and hear from the media. Well-put. I have to add that the problems at the root of the rioting in which you describe are not limited to the UK.
LikeLike
Well said. At the very least, the riots signal (to my several time hour zone away p.o.v., anyway) the failure of Cameron’s austerity measures, which seem to hit the under-privileged the hardest. But then, the fiery video footage makes it hard to sympathize. Quite a quandary.
LikeLike
Someone posted this quote on Facebook. I thought it makes an interesting point: In one NBC report, a young man in Tottenham was asked if rioting really achieved anything: “Yes,” said the young man. “You wouldn’t be talking to me now if we didn’t riot, would you? Two months ago we marched to Scotland Yard, more than 2,000 of us, all blacks, and it was peaceful and calm and you know what? Not a word in the press. Last night a bit of rioting and looting and look around you.”
Somehow, I think the media is complicit in the rioting. Cover the issues and people’s perspectives fairly and the people won’t feel inclined to take such extreme actions. Sure, it’s not cool what they’re doing to their neighbors and bystanders, but it’s the only way they’ll be heard.
LikeLike
I’d argue that anti-globalization movements get similar treatment from the media–the nightly news never covers the issues, just the riots.
I haven’t decided if I think it’s because the media is anti-leftist or just a sucker for really cool video footage.
LikeLike
And I’d agree. Almost every social movement needs an extreme wing to get attention. The media doesn’t cover peaceful demonstrations (aside from puff pieces) because they are anti-leftist and it doesn’t attract big ratings. It’s easy to garner big ratings when you sensationalize rioting, distorting the message along the way.
LikeLike
The U.S. media over-covers the peaceful Rick Perry/Glenn Beck pray-ins, but that points to the anti-leftist bias and/or the fear of being dubbed pro-leftist.
LikeLike
Yep, but now we’ve hijacked Steve’s post with our own country’s political issues.
LikeLike
I’m pro-Americanization, especially when it comes to important issues of the day, political or not. What do you think of Ashton Kutcher on Two and a Half Men? Is the NBA lockout going to last all season? How creepy is that Michelle Bachman Newsweek cover? How is Boise State higher than Ohio State in the USA Today preseason poll? Etc.?
LikeLike
LULZ.
I never liked Two and a Half Men.
I don’t care when the NBA lockout ends as long as the Finals happen.
That Michelle Bachman cover is uber creepy.
Boise State is ranked higher because they have their all-everything QB back and OSU is embroiled in controversy over suspensions, a coaching change, and an NCAA investigation. My Buckeyes will be alright. Don’t you worry.
LikeLike
Hijack away – it’a a big issue, and I’m happy seeing any comments! Will try to reply tomorrow…
LikeLike
[…] I trust held no easy answers, perhaps because there aren’t any easy answers today. Steve from Until Next Year mirrored my feelings earlier today: a mix of rage, sadness, and disappointment with the leadership […]
LikeLike
“There are no simple answers … Politicians … need to address the inequalities in this country, and the moral bankruptcy of its Establishment.
Today, and over the next few days, we need to see strong leadership.”
Good article! However, consider your ‘solution’. Do we seriously believe the very people responsible for our condition are now going to show the leadership necessary to resolve it?
I suspect not. Moreover, I suggest politicians will use these riots as an excuse to further punish, exclude, and oppress the disaffected. For example, politicians may see the riots as an OPPORTUNITY to show they are tough on crime.
The situation is ridiculous and will persist until such time as voters wise up. We need to educate voters about the consequences of their vote.
LikeLike
Thanks for all the comments and kind words, folks. I guess the main thing for me when looking at all this is to avoid crass generalisations or knee-jerk reactions. I think there are a multitude of complex socio-political issues to take into account. However, I also think there are a lot of arseholes out there.
But, there needs to be a long-term solution, but I’m not convinced we have the politicians or the media to offer that. There’s been far too much simplification and soundbite-ery.
LikeLike
Oh, and that Michelle Bachman cover is at least as scary as a gang of looters.
LikeLike
[…] of Chris at What I Reckon, Stephen at The-At-Long-Last-I’ve-Got-A-Job Blog and Steve at Wait Until Next Year, and also Camila Batmanghelidjh‘s thought-provoking piece in The Independent. All of the […]
LikeLike
[…] greatly in the Blitz. It was targeted by an IRA bomb in 1974. It was one of the focal points of the London riots in […]
LikeLike
I used to be suggested this website by way of my cousin. I
am now not certain whether this put up is written by way of
him as nobody else know such specified approximately my
difficulty. You’re amazing! Thank you!
LikeLike