What the hell has happened in London over the past few nights? Huh? Following the death of a suspect at the hands of the Police last thursday, a peaceful protest outside a police station in North East London descended into chaos and violence as cars were trashed, shops looted and buildings burnt to the ground. This then continued further afield on Saturday, Sunday,Monday and Tuesday evenings, and onto other cities such as Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester.
But what does it all mean?
I have read so many differing opinions and analyses on the meaning of it all, the backdrop to it, the possible causes and consequences. And the problem as I see it is this. Everyone is correct. Those who argue one extreme, that it is just a bunch of lawless, violent, good for nothing scum, intent on causing damage just for the sake of causing damage, and doing so because they've witnessed others doing it, well, they're right. That certainly describes some of these people. And those who argue another extreme, that these are the disaffected youth of generations of teens and adults that have been let down by the government and local authorities who are simply venting their frustrations and angers in the only way they know, well, that's correct too. And if you then take these two extremes, add in all the people who come somewhere in between, that's a lot of people. Certainly too many people for the police to adequately cope with in the last few evenings.
Others have argued over the lack of police and fire departments to deal with the events, but I would argue back that you cannot expect a police force or fire brigade to be constantly prepared for what has happened. The police have been stretched to their extreme the past few nights. I have also seen a thread on a website message board where a number of people had verbally attacked a journalist who had taken photo's in Croyden during the chaos, saying he should stay out of the area, and questioned his qualifications and were quite threatening towards him. Below is my response to that thread:
This is the single most ridiculous thread ever.
I personally no not feel the need to criticise ******, because I believe in FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I will only criticise someone if they are putting the safety of others at risk. So far, the rioters have put at risk the lives of the public, shop keepers, business owners, the police, fire and ambulance services, and themselves. In a perfect world everyone would stay at home and out of the way, but in our modern world of mobile phones and social networking, the line between professional and amateur journalism is faded. All some of you are doing is creating a pointless thread of claims and counter claims that help no one.
On the one hand, journalism of these events is simply fuelling the fire (no pun intended) of the young people attacking our streets, who are witnessing the scenes in one area and copying them elsewhere. However, there are certain people who seem to think that London and other cities have only experienced a few ‘skirmishes’ and what is all the fuss about, therefore the pictures and reports are making the severity of the events clear for all to see. Both the amateur and professional footage is also being used to identify the many looters, thieves and thugs. Anyone who has read a paper, watched the news or listened to the radio has in some way consumed a form of professional or amateur journalism.
If ****** or anyone else wishes to report on anything, that is THEIR CHOICE, and if you want to stay at home and out of the way, that is YOUR CHOICE, and if you want to pick up a broom and help clear up the mess, YOU CHOOSE TO. If ****** asks people to join him, they have the choice to say ‘no’, or ‘yes’. But for you to then question his qualifications and motives, call him stupid, and generally create a negative and accusatory thread, is almost as morally wrong as the thugs who think they’re right to attack hard working individuals. This might sound crass, but what right do we have to verbally attack him, just as I question the right that these thugs have to physically attack our streets. Don’t criticise others for doing what they choose. Shall we ask all war correspondents to come home? Shall we ask all journalists in dangerous African countries to come home?
The events of the past few days are extremely fluid and there are no clear answers, I just pray that these people see sense soon and realise that this violence will solve nothing in the short term whilst only dialogue, discussion and debate will help in the long term.
I personally no not feel the need to criticise ******, because I believe in FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I will only criticise someone if they are putting the safety of others at risk. So far, the rioters have put at risk the lives of the public, shop keepers, business owners, the police, fire and ambulance services, and themselves. In a perfect world everyone would stay at home and out of the way, but in our modern world of mobile phones and social networking, the line between professional and amateur journalism is faded. All some of you are doing is creating a pointless thread of claims and counter claims that help no one.
On the one hand, journalism of these events is simply fuelling the fire (no pun intended) of the young people attacking our streets, who are witnessing the scenes in one area and copying them elsewhere. However, there are certain people who seem to think that London and other cities have only experienced a few ‘skirmishes’ and what is all the fuss about, therefore the pictures and reports are making the severity of the events clear for all to see. Both the amateur and professional footage is also being used to identify the many looters, thieves and thugs. Anyone who has read a paper, watched the news or listened to the radio has in some way consumed a form of professional or amateur journalism.
If ****** or anyone else wishes to report on anything, that is THEIR CHOICE, and if you want to stay at home and out of the way, that is YOUR CHOICE, and if you want to pick up a broom and help clear up the mess, YOU CHOOSE TO. If ****** asks people to join him, they have the choice to say ‘no’, or ‘yes’. But for you to then question his qualifications and motives, call him stupid, and generally create a negative and accusatory thread, is almost as morally wrong as the thugs who think they’re right to attack hard working individuals. This might sound crass, but what right do we have to verbally attack him, just as I question the right that these thugs have to physically attack our streets. Don’t criticise others for doing what they choose. Shall we ask all war correspondents to come home? Shall we ask all journalists in dangerous African countries to come home?
The events of the past few days are extremely fluid and there are no clear answers, I just pray that these people see sense soon and realise that this violence will solve nothing in the short term whilst only dialogue, discussion and debate will help in the long term.
All in all, I've no idea where things will go next. Once the mayhem calms down, which I imagine it will in a few days time, what do these 'protesters' expect to happen? There will be no sudden change in policies, or legislation, but there will be thousands of businesses and people affected for the foreseeable future. These people are destroying their own neighborhoods. Their own city. My city. And this saddens me greatly.
People smash up London
People clean up London
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