A 21st Century Disturbance

Looking back on the riots of a few weeks ago I still feel almost dirty. It is as though by committing such crimes that particular group of young Brits have tarred the rest of their age group and nationality with the same brush. I recently heard something which completely illustrated exactly the reason for people's disdain for these criminals-

In Africa they're looting the grocery stores because they're starving to death. In Britain they loot and destroy simply because they can.

It is an apt statement. These kids may feel like they're deprived because they live on a council estate and don't have an ipad or a 3DTV. Yet they have no real experience of deprivation. Our welfare system, while ridiculed every day by tabloids, is one of the greatest in the world and provides as much as possible to make sure kids get the best start in life. I can guarantee that none of the rioters has ever experienced real hunger, having not eaten for weeks. I am sure that they have never not been able to receive inoculations, medical treatment or a social worker or counsellor to speak to about their problems. And if they have it is the fault of either themselves or their parents. In Britain today all you have to do is ask... And half the time you don't even have to!

They looted because they were bored or greedy. A modern disease in the western world. They want it, so regardless of whether or not they have worked for it, they think they can take it. They beat the corner shop owners they have seen most days of their lives, they burn down the homes of neighbours and schoolmates, they make aunties, uncles and friends forcibly redundant by wrecking their workplace. And who cares? Not them. They got a new flat screen.

All I could say to these people is how disappointed I am. They are despicable, stupid and completely ignorant and the sooner they learn not to bite the hand that feeds them the better. As for a solution.. Well, at risk of sounding like your grandmother they need a good hiding. Send them to prison with the big boys - The killers, the rapists, the hardened criminals. Then let them see how hard they are. Their greed and disregard for others is a modern capitalist epidemic which needs to be cured. Of course I agree with the idea that you need grassroots education and support in inner city areas synonymous with deprivation but I think these events showed us just how successful they have been. The softly softly approach has lost us a generation of people who now seem to be in a state of anomie. They looked almost feral as they ran through the streets with their bricks and poles. So if they want to act like animals they should be treated as such. And the best way to make a dog behave? Show them who's boss/