I am sure that like me, there are many sitting in a state of stunned non-comprehension at what is unfolding across the UK. What started out as fairly innocuous protests have spread into mob rule and urban terror, the likes of which Britain has never experienced. How did things escalate so quickly? Why have the law enforcement agencies been unable to deal with it? Why such lawlessness and destruction? Where are the parents of those on the streets? In essence, how could British society have come to this?
When the youth are restrained and the damaged cleared, the scars of what has happened will haunt British society for a long, long time. What has taken place will have rocked the British – well those sane and sensible at least, to the core. The shear scale and nature of the terror that has gripped the streets of London and elsewhere will demand deep introspection and will pose several haunting questions. It will provide and demand a look in the mirror and I suspect that what is reflected, will not be to their liking.
In short British society has failed. It has experienced a meltdown of epic proportions. It is something that some have warned about but few could have envisaged. The failure goes to the very heart of society – the home, and specifically, the parents. How else can you explain it? Yes, schools and educators share in the responsibility as well as various community structures and organisations but putting the burden of blame here is to deny the essence of all that has gone awry. The underpinning horror of it all was the age of those perpetrating the vandalism, looting and violence. Report after shocked report spoke about ‘young people’ at the heart of the mayhem, repeating the ages (11 years old was the youngest age I heard reported) as if by doing so, some sort of waking from the nightmare would materialize. It was scarcely believable and hard to comprehend. The appeal of the acting Police Commissioner for parents to contact their kids and see to it that they returned hope was akin to whistling in the wind. Did he really think that if parents did not know where their children where after dark that they would be able to summons them home with a phone call? “Sod off” would have likely been the kids response, the battle for parental control and respect long lost.
The events over the past few days will reverberate into the days, months and years to come. Solutions will have to be found but those solutions will require decades to implement. How do you reform a society? How do you address deep-seated educational shortfalls? How do you instil discipline and values that would serve as a balk ward against such indiscriminate behaviour? If the questions are deep, the answers go even deeper. I suspect the Brits will need all the help they can get but first they will need to climb off their moral pedestal in order to reflect, learn and ultimately, do what is necessary.
I recall the disparaging reports about South African society and our readiness to welcome the world to the World Cup. I have long been aware of the snide and condescending tone of British tabloids to anything African and now suddenly the boot seems well and truly on the other foot. I must admit to a slight smug sense of “well, well… look at this” when the first acts and images of the riots were reported. However, any misplaced glee that this could be happening in London of all places, quickly gave way to horror and sadness at what was unfolding. No one should take delight in what has happened – although of course many will and in this response sits yet another lesson to be learnt for the British.
The reality is that such urban violence is not far from many who think it impossible. And lets be clear about one thing: Social technology is not to blame here either. Yes, it is a ‘tool’ that has made possible what has taken place but so too is it a tool that can be used for good. Social technology cannot be blamed and if it is, it will be no different from those forefathers who sought to ban the printing press for fear of the information such technology would spread; or those in South Africa some decades ago who adopted the same attitude towards television. Blaming the medium through which lawlessness spreads is to miss the point entirely and lets hope that in the aftermath of what has occurred in London and elsewhere, the real issue is not obscured by such recriminations.
I hope for healing. I hope that some good may ultimately emerge from the ashes of these past days. Change is always possible. Great things can come from the bad. Good can replace evil. If you want evidence, look no further than South Africa. Whilst challenges of course remain, our recent past stands as a beacon to change, hope and commitment. It takes a village to raise a child and never has this been more needed than is at the present time in the UK. Whilst there is much soul-searching and work that will need to be done there , let’s not be complacent here; ours is a village worth looking out for and so let’s make sure we do just that when it comes our most precious resource – our children. We have been given a sober warning; we need to pay heed!
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