I didn’t have to think hard about what to blog about this week. If anyone has had access to a television or newspaper over the last couple of days, you will have seen the horrific images of London in turmoil.
So, what kicked it off?
Well, originally it was linked to an incident which occurred on Saturday in Tottenham, when police shot and killed an armed drug dealer. A quiet protest was held by the victim’s family….and then all hell broke loose.
By Saturday evening, shops in Tottenham were being looted with one newspaper reporting, “Youths broke into MacDonald’s and started cooking their own hamburgers.” I think this statement sums up the intelligence of the Neanderthal’s involved.
The first I heard about the trouble was on Sunday when my hubby saw the news feed on his phone. And, if I am completely honest, the only reason we were remotely interested in reading more was because my hubby grew up in Walthamstow, which is only miles from Tottenham. It isn’t the first time youths have caused trouble in this area and I’m sure it won’t be the last. By Sunday night, we were aware the trouble had reached Walthamstow, but were unprepared for what happened the following evening.
The BBC reported that Monday’s violence began when police stopped and searched a man in Hackney. Nothing was found and the man was allowed on his way. Then, later in the afternoon, groups of people started throwing stones, and a bin, at police officers.
I returned home Monday evening after an meal out with friends. We began discussing the trouble Tottenham and Walthamstow had seen over the weekend and decided to see if there were any new updates. We switched on the television……..and sat in stunned silence. Buildings were ablaze, shops were being looted. Rioters were fighting with police. It looked like a war zone. The only time we spoke was when police steamed after the gangs – for that we cheered…loudly.
Throughout the evening, the trouble escalated to Clapham, Hackney, Lewisham, Ealing…..Everywhere. It even reached Ilford and Romford, which was way too close for my liking; My Dad and sister live nearby.
In front of my eyes, a building burned until it was nothing but a shell. Shop owners where robbed, and our under staffed police force could do nothing to help them. Teenagers picked up metal fencing and lobbed it at security shutters that protected the shops inventory inside. Police cars and fire engines had windscreens smashed. How could this happen?
I was at my friends, in Romford, early the following morning. Her house overlooks the London sky line, and unfortunately the eerie reminder of the buildings and cars destroyed by fire.
Last night saw local residents take a stand against crime and the trouble makers thinking they had a right to commit it. Walking the streets, these remarkable people protected their friends and family, properties, and businesses. The result saw hardly any trouble in London. However, the rioting escalated further north of the country in Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham.
Unfortunately, three people died when they were purposely mowed down. One man arrived on the scene and instinctively tried to help the victims. Someone then told him his own son was lying behind him. Covered in blood, this father immediately started CPR. His son unfortunately died. These three men were just trying to protect what was theirs and our thoughts and prayers are with their families today.
But why are people doing this?
There have been many comments from the youths and rioters – none of which I feel remotely sorry for. One youth, his face covered by a bandana, said: “I’m here for money and cause the police nick you for stupid things. This is payback. They (police) can’t do nothing.” And this is a spokesman? Doesn’t really put forward a very good case, does he?
One youth who, while expressing he in no way condoned what had been going on, tried to rationalise it. “It is wrong, but they (rioters) are trying to make money cause they can’t get to college. It’s showing everyone’s frustration. No one has a future.”
What amazes me is that this barbaric behaviour is being put down to the economic status of this country. ‘Youths don’t have a voice’ and ‘People want money and are frustrated.’ It makes me sick. We’ve all been down on our luck at times, and all felt the depression and stress that brings….but not once have I ever considered going out, robbing a shop, burning down an entire building, and throwing a brick at a copper. There is absolutely no excuse for this!
The public are screaming for the rioters parents to be brought to account. Well, I hate to break it to you but, knowing some of the areas these youths derive from, the parents probably sent their children out armed with a crowbar and an list of things to steal.
And to add insult to injury, we now have Germany taking advantage of the situation by comparing London to the Capital of Samalia. And many other nations, including Australia are saying we shouldn’t be holding the 2012 Olympics. Hey, why not just stick a barb wire fence around our shorelines and be done with it?
And today?
So far, over 400 people have been arrested and today saw some very busy courts. It makes my blood boil when ‘youths’ cannot be named due to their age, but one 17 year old has been charged with burglary. His lawyer described him as ‘someone with promise and who was studying to be a sound engineer. This was a moment of madness.’ A moment of madness? Really? Because, from where I’m standing, it was more like twelve hours of madness.
The most stupid so far?
The man who was arrested for stealing a bottle of wine from Somerfields Supermarket with a street value of probably no more than £3.99! And two sisters for stealing bubble gum from a newsagents.
I think David Cameron, who returned home from his holiday yesterday, said it best. “For too long there has been a lack of focus on the complete lack of respect shown by these thugs. I’m clear they are no way representative of the vast majority of young people who despise them as much as the rest of us do. But there are pockets of our society that are not just broken – they are sick. When you see children as young as 12 and 13 looting and laughing, and when we see the disgusting sight of an injured young man with people pretending to help him while they are in fact robbing him, it is clear there are things that are badly wrong in our society.”
So, have you seen the images? Have you watched the news reports? What do you think of what’s been happening in London and England in the past few days? Do you agree with what some of the rioters argue? Let me know.
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The young man being robbed while being ‘consoled’ was one video I did see. Really disgusting. Unfortunately, I don’t know the UK climate well enough to make a fair comment on it, except for the fact that this whole matter is unfortunate.
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My heart goes out to all of you over there. Hopefully no more innocent people will be killed because of this ridiculousness. Good post!
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Thank you for your post. I was going to ask you about this today. I understand that the youth are frustrated and feeling hopeless about the economy. Hell, I am, too. But to riot and loot is only making things worse for themselves and everyone else. It’s not just criminal, it’s the ultimate in stupidity. If I had the power, I would impress on these young people that they and their world are what they make it, and they just made themselves and their world trash. If they want to be something more than trash, they need to show some respect for themselves and for others and find ways to solve their problems that don’t involve death and destruction. I’d be interested in hearing more as this unfolds. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the decent people of the UK.
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Donna,
My heart goes out to the good people of England. The riots are one more example of global anarchy that too often is coddled by the press.. We have seen it at world monetary conferences. All too often the thugs get the interviews and empathy by the media, while victims get short shrift.
I applaud anyone who responds with indignation and appreciate the efforts of your government to restore order.
My thoughts are with you and your fellow citizens. At a time when so much focus is on global affairs it is a good time to focus instead on national security.
As others have said, my thoughts and prayers go out to you.
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Great post Donna, and I suspect we will hear far too much molly coddling from certain quarters, that we shouldn’t so thoroughly condemn those “caught up in the moment”. It’s funny, I’ve never felt an urge to steal things, even when I’ve seen others do it…
I wrote a lot about this on my own blog (http://awannabewriters.blogspot.com/2011/08/london-burns-and-bleeding-hearts-weep.html) and agree with what you say. There are no excuses for this behaviour and as someone who has in the past known the kind of people involved in it, I know they don’t have any decent reasons either – other than “A wanted to and no one’s gonna stop me. Cuz, you know, I’m better than all you.”
The worst part is how this appears to other countries, because though this total lack of respect and decency is not unique to Britain, the particular flavour of it here is. And it’s hard to explain it to anyone who hasn’t encountered it.
Today I’ve walked down Romford high street and there was no one hanging around in large groups. And you know what? It was lovely. I wish it could be like that always.
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I am so sorry to hear of this. The pictures took me back to being a child in Detroit during the riots of 1967. People looting, shooting, and burning everything in sight. The city really never recovered from the devastation. I hope the cities in the UK are able to get back on their feet and move on. I also hope the responsible parties are given a good taste of the “payback” they doled out, maybe they can work in a chain gang and help rebuild what they destroyed.
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Thanks so much for your insightful post. This is the most well-rounded perspective I have found so far on what’s taking place. I know what its like to see your beautiful city being trashed by ‘neanderthals’, as you appropriately called them. Though, watching this, I feel lucky that Vancouver had only one night of horror. I guess it shows how common the thread of hopelessness is, and how unreasonably we act when we feel that way. Piper hit the nail on the head when she said that to loot and riot when you feel powerless over the economy – or anything else – only makes the situation worse! I think that hosting the 2012 Olympics will actually provide some healing for these cities. Others are quick to point the finger at the entire city for the actions of a relative minority; I think its all of us afraid we’d somehow find ourselves acting that way. Blessings on all of you as you pick up the pieces. Perhaps some good will come. Our hearts and thoughts are with you.
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Lana, It’s a shame that these people exist at all. One night or three, this kind of behaviour is never forgotten. Luckily, the good people out weigh the bad and we always manage to prevail. Thanks so much for caring.
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My heart goes out to you Donna. It seems to me that these people are looking for an excuse to loot and rob — they feel entitled. They think they’re taking from “the rich” when what they’re doing is taking from people who have worked hard most of their lives. Something these people clearly know nothing about.
It’s almost the same mentality as the losing team of a pro sports championship. Time after time a group of people go out and tear their city down, looting and destroying the very people they live with in their own hometown over a GAME. A recent example: Vancouver after the Stanley Cup playoffs. It makes no sense and what’s happening in your wonderful country makes no sense.
Take care of yourself and stay safe. Please keep us posted.
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Thanks Kate. The rioters were all smug to start with because the sentences were so weak. Now though, the judges are throwing people in prison. The idiots faces aren’t smiling anymore 🙂
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I lived in London for three years and I have to say I am not surprised. It is a great city and for the most part people wonderful but I did notice a distinct lack of discipline in young people. It was a regular occurrence, even in the area I lived in near Wimbledon, to find graffiti, the glass around our bus stop broken and gangs of youths hanging around acting tough. It was a regular occurrence, even seven years ago to have gangs of youths try to intimidate people on the street. And it was a regular occurrence when I was upset by this for someone to tell me they were just youngsters, they act out, they’ll grow up. I agree with Cameron. They will grow up to be hoodlums if no one takes responsibility for them. That being said, this is not just a London problem, this is a world problem. Don’t tell me Germany doesn’t have this problem. You certainly can’t tell me France doesn’t have this problem since I have seen that first hand. And I live too close to Baltimore and DC and even our small town of Annapolis to tell you the problems don’t exist here. We love London. This will pass but something does have to give and maybe this will show people that discipline has got to be a priority.
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At first, the courts were giving out stupid sentences because they said their hands were tied by the law etc. Now they have been told to ignore all rules and sentence as they see fit. It’s brilliant. They are throwing people in prision left, right, and centre. About time too.
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It disturbs me when people do these things. However, I think it’s a symptom that something is wrong in society. Hope you and your loved ones and friends are okay.
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Thanks so much. Luckily it stayed at bay. It nearly reached my dad and sister though. Scary stuff, that’s for sure.
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[…] in Merry Ol’ England, Donna Newton gives a double whammy. First, she gives us an account of The London Riots then a great review of […]
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