A country in chaos? Who’s to blame?
What in heaven’s name is this country coming to? I appreciate that it is obviously a different world from what I grew up in, but do parents have such little control over their children that the last few days are the results?
Where is the respect? I just do not understand how the youth of today think that it is ok to partake in the violence of recent days. Where is their sense of responsibility? Their sense of right versus wrong?
Who is to blame? Is this, as some are suggesting, a result of the cuts to the social infrastructure by the current government? I find that one hard to believe. If that really was the case, that the cutbacks are to blame, then surely there would be constant rioting, constant civil unrest by more than just the few hundred youths of the last few days.
I think that too many kids today have been held to such little account for their actions that they just don’t care about anyone or anything but themselves. Are we seeing the results of a generation of children with absentee parents? I heard on the BBC news this morning that there have been children as young as 7 who have been arrested! 7 years old! Dear god, what is happening? When I was 7 you can be sure that there would have been absolutely NO WAY that I would have been involved in anything like this. At 7 I was too busy being a child – playing with friends & way too scared (should the thought of something even remotely like this have crossed my mind) of what the consequences would have been had I acted on my thoughts.
How much of the blame lies with social media? All these young people are far more “socially” active these days – they have twitter, Facebook, text messaging – all things that in seconds put them in the centre of the action. They have their own language & what seems to be little or no regard for others. This is not the first time in recent history that these hard questions have needed to be asked. Recently, essentially the same thing happened, in the name of protests over the tuition hikes. It may have started that way, with a few people expressing their disgust at that situation in a lawful manner, but quickly escalated to shocking scenes of violence & a total disregard for other people & their belongings.
All too quickly this mob mentality has spread throughout the country – to Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham – resulting in violent riots in each of these cities. How & when did it become socially acceptable (within the circles of people the ages of those committing these acts) to be a yob, to put yourself above anyone else & to destroy other people’s lives, livelihoods & futures, all in the name of…..well, what exactly?
I think there is something seriously wrong in this country, with our young people, but what can be done to fix it? And who’s willing to take it on?
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Ceinwenn
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Kazzer75
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Laura D.
I can’t even watch the news – it is too depressing. We live in a “hand out” society where there is no concept of other people working hard and paying the taxes to finance the lives of leisure led by the benefit frauds and abusers. These kids want something for free as well – televisions, trainers, the latest “in” clothing – all at the expense of shopkeepers and the insurance companies that will end up paying the bill. Oh – and let’s not forget how FABULOUS this is for our tourist industry.
The government needs to grow some nads – and fast. First off, a curfew – because parents either can’t or won’t enforce one themselves. Secondly, anyone caught out in the street with a tea towel in their possession automatically gets done for public mischief. Thirdly, water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets and USE the freakin’ batons!
Katherine, I also find it astounding that all of this violence has happened, but it isn’t a UK issue. It’s an England issue. There has not (**touch wood**) thus far been any violence in Wales, Cornwall, Scotland or even Northern Ireland (where one could possible expect there to be). What is so wrong in England?
It was sad and depressing to watch the pictures. To answer your question, “who is to blame?”, well my opinion is the kids who were looting, destroying property, and ultimately killing people are the ones to blame. And, as you mentioned in your post – their parents. Many of those kids grow up with a chip on their shoulder, an ‘us and them’ mentality against anyone they feel is the enemy at any particular time, and a ‘me, me, me’ attitude – and it’s instilled in them early by their parents and the people that surround them. They walk around in Adidas hoodies and Nike shoes, texting on iPhones and Blackberry’s – these kids are not hard done to – they are spolied little brats.
If I’d have ever been involved in something like this as a child, or a teenager, jail would have been preferable than having to deal with my mom’s reaction. I was scared straight early. These kids get away with (it seems literally) murder. I’m happy at least to see stiff penalties being dished out, and I’m bewildered by those who think they are too harsh.
It was sad and depressing to watch the pictures. To answer your question, “who is to blame?”, well my opinion is the kids who were looting, destroying property, and ultimately killing people are the ones to blame. And, as you mentioned in your post – their parents. Many of those kids grow up with a chip on their shoulder, an ‘us and them’ mentality against anyone they feel is the enemy at any particular time, and a ‘me, me, me’ attitude – and it’s instilled in them early by their parents and the people that surround them. They walk around in Adidas hoodies and Nike shoes, texting on iPhones and Blackberry’s – these kids are not hard done to – they are spolied little brats.
+1