RIOTS
Now that the riots have calmed, and the papers and newscasters have left the subject behind, I have some questions about it all.
I have listened to the Prime Minister and various Politicians all talking about the fact that this was just gang culture, it is robbery, and that is it. I did hear a couple of people asking what the causes are of what is going on. But not a lot of comments were coming back on that score. Some have cited cuts and closures but I would like to ask some other questions and I think my questions just might touch on causes.
The last government spent a large amount of money on trying to cut down underage and very young age pregnancies. They failed, the figures went up.
Question one: How many of our rioters come from very young mothers who really are possibly only children themselves?
We have terrible figures for marriage breakdowns, I note that the prime minister said, lots of the rioters have come from dysfunctional families, maybe, and if so…
Question two: What make those families dysfunctional?
I noted that the Education Minister was saying that it isn’t education that is to blame.
Question Three: If you are taught that you are just a machine, or a collection of genes that all arrived by accident, is there really any need to take responsibility for my actions? Just asking.
Question Four: Jim Wallis in his book Why the American Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get it - states that a budget is a moral document, is he right?
Question Five: And talking of Morals, where do they come from? Are they truly there, and if so can we talk about them? Is there a law giver and ultimate judge? Can I make my own mind up as to what is right and wrong? And if I should decide that looting is right who is to say I am wrong?
One young lady with a tee shirt covering her face when asked by a reporter,”How do you feel about robbery, do you feel good about what you have just done?” Replied, I’m only getting some of my taxes back!”
Question Six: Many have said, these rioters have nothing to lose, maybe they haven’t if they are just machines in an accidental universe, which is what they have been ‘educated’ to believe. Are they right?
Just in case you think I live in an ivory tower, I actually live in Wood Green, many of my family live in Tottenham, I am white, but personal friends who are black had to take their small child and run from their flat just above the first carpet shop that went up in flames in Tottenham!
Also I am involved in trying to help NEET young people (Not in Education Employment or Training) and its true that many of them have given up on themselves, do not know where they fit in, or feel they do have not stake in society and nothing to contribute. Not knowing that God loves them and regards them as highly valuable, and has purpose for their lives.
Question Seven: All the politicians and police have talked about the fact that this is gang related. I meet some of the gang youngsters who are afraid to go out of their post code in case they get attacked because they are in the wrong place. Our training centre is in the wrong place for some of them and we have had to give them rides to and fro so they can improve their education. But here is the question, why are they in those gangs? Is it because their family is dysfunctional and family life is not there and so they need to belong, they need a family even if that family is a gang?
Question Eight: Is it my imagination or am I right in thinking that if you talk about right and wrong, or dare I say Evil and Good, or worse still Sin, then the PC crowd and government is on it like a ton of bricks, telling you, ‘No its just behavioural; and you should not talk in those terms!’
Question Nine: Dr Donald Howard an American Educationalist said that discipline is not something you do TO someone; it is actually something you do FOR someone. Am I right in thinking that this is now out of fashion, discipline that is, and very un PC?
Question Ten: Do we need to find a purpose in life, do we need to look for a lawgiver, is it possible that even though our families are dysfunctional there is a family that wants to include us, and bring us into responsible relationship?
I look forward to your comments.
Adrian Hawkes
For Blogspot.com
Edit: Technicolour Text
11th August 2011
W. 823
Tim Othy
ReplyDeleteFaith requires courage and belief is an interesting concept regardless of the object of attention and intent. That said, with what image of ourselves and the universe/multi-verse are we content. What about ourselves compels us to assimilate or dissent? Sociology concerns itself with why "we" do, Criminology with why "they" don't and Anthropology helps us determine that not everyone does the same thing, but "we" are more "right" especially if we're Left, while Political Science tells us how to manipulate our constituents with aggrandized intent, equivalent to intellectual & existential theft. Rapacious, raucous, and really quite rude is the "logic" of animals, on their own in a brood. Lucky for us there's the ICC and the Hague to protect unprincipled fools from the glaze-eyed stare of murderous forebears of agendas separated from legitimacy by cries for Demagoguery, oops I meant Democracy, at the points of bayonets. With that said, sir, "How do I pay the rent?" Influence? Affluence? Coherence? Competence? Coercion or Compassion? How should we and by that I mean me and you Live? Simple is rarely easy... ;-)>
Paula Coates
ReplyDeleteloved this Adrian, well said
Tim Othy
ReplyDeleteOddly enuff, this post is only half of what I wrote, wherein I think that actual humor is lost, worst left behind as the proof is in the pudding and in the pretext. Damn! I wish I had a copy of the rest to put what survived to the test for the rest. One of these days, I'll get to tell you what I mean, preferably in person, cuz that makes me keen for a trip to London town to have a brilliant conversation over a pint of Nukey Brown! Cheers Adrian. Thank you for everything you do.
Ciao,
Timothy ;-)>
good stuff.
ReplyDeleteAllister Bowen
ReplyDeleteRioting is a natural as Chelsea vs Tottenham.
Chris Chessum Says:
ReplyDeleteHi Adrian,
You’ve certainly been busy since we last communicated, with two more articles written since then. I can’t keep up with you.
I’ve tried to answer some of your questions below since you ask for comments. I guess I’m the only person on your blog who disagrees with you, so I hope you’ll find my comments refreshing if nothing else. Lol.
For the sake of clarity, I’ve entered my comments following your numbered Blog on RIOTS
Question one: Don’t know. However, I was told that the average age of those arrested were from 18 to early 20s.
Question two: This is the six million dollar question, but I don’t think there’s any one single answer.
Question Three: Don’t know of any scientists or evolutionary biologist who say that we are just machines or that we are a collection of genes that arrived by accident. However, even if this were the case, yes there would be a need to take responsibility for our actions. If we can consciously make decisions and control our actions we can and must take responsibility. The danger comes when we try to ascribe our actions to some deity. At that point personal responsibility flies out of the window.
Question Four: Haven’t read this book so I can’t comment.
Question Five: Moral principles are human creations. There is also a sense that they have evolved and have been developed over many years; e.g., the morality of the middle ages is not the morality of today. Ultimately, having morals has helped to preserve the survival of humanity. (Adrians comment Are they truly there, and if so can we talk about them?) Yes we can. They are not there in a tangible sense but they certainly are there in a conceptual sense. We may argue sometimes about what is right or wrong, but can’t argue that there is no distinction between the two. (Adrian Comment: there a law giver and ultimate judge?) There are human law givers and human judges, other than that; I see no evidence to suggest that there is an ultimate judge or law giver, i.e., a god. (Adrian’s CommentCan I make my own mind up as to what is right and wrong?) To a certain extent yes; although much of what is considered to be right and wrong in any society have been decided for us in terms of social conventions and law. (Adrian Comment: And if I should decide that looting is right who is to say I am wrong?) The law of the land.
ReplyDelete(Adrian’s Comment One young lady with a tee shirt covering her face when asked by a reporter,”How do you feel about robbery, do you feel good about what you have just done?” Replied, I’m only getting some of my taxes back!”) Did her answer impress you? She’s probably never even paid tax.
Question Six: Adrian, in your last blog you mentioned how frustrated you were when people try to tell you what it is that you believe and then proceed to tell you that you are wrong; The underlined sentence is a classic example of you doing the same thing. (Adrian’s Comment: Are they right?) No. They have a considerable amount to lose. 50% of them by the way have already lost their liberty.
It wasn’t just blacks that were rioting. I have seen close up CCTV footage of the Enfield riots.
(Adrian’s Comments: Also I am involved in trying to help NEET young people (Not in Education Employment or Training) and its true that many of them have given up on themselves, do not know where they fit in, or feel they do have not stake in society and nothing to contribute. Not knowing that God loves them and regards them as highly valuable, and has purpose for their lives.) I take my hat off to you for doing this kind of work. Anything that helps these young people to have a sense of self worth and channel their energies into something positive is good. That doesn’t make the claims about God or religion true of course.
Question Seven: Possibly.
ReplyDeleteQuestion Eight: Not exactly sure what you mean here. I have no difficulty in talking about “right and wrong.”
Question Nine: Discipline should be talked about. I don’t know and neither do I care whether it’s PC. I think the problem is that we have become too obsessed with people’s “rights” and have neglected to take “responsibilities” into consideration.
Question Ten: Yes, all kinds of relationships can be established outside of the family that can be fruitful and rewarding. However, I wouldn’t want to detract from the importance of the family. The family unit is the point of contact we have with a group which we belong to and in which we feel loved and a sense of belonging. Family relationships are important.
Bye for now Adrian.
Chris Chessum