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A Further Perspective
The British Riots
A generation has been brought up not knowing right from wrong.
Without in any way seeking to minimize the horror and tragedy of the Norwegian gun massacre, the British riots in a way seem more serious. The Norwegian killings were the work of a lone madman, who at most was possibly encouraged by a very small group of associates. The madman seems to have thought he was furthering some kind of cause, even if it is impossible to say exactly what.
The British riots, however, had no cause. A suspected drug-dealer was apparently shot by police in London, and cities all over the country have gone up in smoke. It is as if the country has been living on a ticking bomb that no one was aware existed.
Picking one’s way through the often self-censored, politically correct reportage, there appears to have been a racial element in the riots. But many of the rioters filmed were white, and some at least appear to be ordinary middle-class people. Although there is obviously a class element, with some extreme leftists calling for open class warfare, the main sufferers have been, as always, small shopkeepers, householders, and workers whose employment has been destroyed. These riots have caused deep, life-damaging suffering. Nothing like this occurred in the gray, straitened, austere Britain of the immediate post-war period, when there was even greater economic hardship than today.
There have been riots in Britain before, but they generally had at least some kind of identifiable cause. Similarly, the riots in Europe (against the cutting of plainly unsustainable government benefits) were in pursuit of something. In the British riots thousands of people seem to have been caught up in a frenzy of indiscriminate destruction for its own sake. Even looting was secondary to destroying. And yet it is only a few weeks since the Royal Wedding appeared to bring the country together in a great outburst of patriotic pride and rejoicing.
It is obvious that generations of policies of self-destructive liberalism and a deep-seated social nihilism are coming home to roost.
It may be dawning on some political leaders that the education, family, immigration and criminal justice policies of successive, but principally Labour, governments have created an under-class not only lacking in the most basic skills necessary for employment but also lacking in the most basic values of human conduct. Discipline in many schools (except against expressions of political incorrectness) has largely been abandoned, with predictable results. The so-called “softly, softly” approach to policing, which has enthralled many liberalistic police chiefs, may also be consigned to the scrap-heap of bad ideas.
The rioters are not exclusively feral youths. Middle-aged and apparently middle-class people have been seen looting and wrecking shops where they have been customers for years and where the shopkeepers whose lives they have destroyed looked on them as friends. Not only the “capitalistic” icons of business premises have been burnt but also family homes. It does not begin to make even bad sense.
There may well be a connection between the massive breakdown of morality and the recent revelations of widespread and largely unpunished corruption in the political class, with blatant theft from the public purse on both sides of Parliament. True, many of the rioters are probably people who never read a newspaper, but some idea of the appalling example British law-makers have set may have filtered down to them.
It has been the Church of England’s function and duty to provide the population with a moral education and compass, and over several centuries its establishment was vaguely justified in these terms. Lately, it has let the nation down. The Church of England, though it may be to some extent the victim of sensationalist journalism, and although it still contains some good people, appears pre-occupied with homosexuality, the “sinfulness” of carbon emissions, anti-Semitic boycotts of Israel, and, in the pronouncements of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the possible acceptability of Sharia law. A large part of a whole generation literally does not know right from wrong, good from evil.
Another element of toxicity in the social cocktail is a culture that glorifies “badness” and ugliness, from the posthumous near-canonization of Amy Winehouse and the honoring (even the official honoring) of other icons of the drug culture to the celebration of ugliness in the paintings of Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon.
The British National Party is the most probable beneficiary from the rioting. Already the BNP is putting out leaflets demanding the presence of the Army on the streets. Many people, traumatized by the last few days, are likely to agree.
About the Author
Hal G.P. Colebatch’s “Immram,” Counterstrike, is being published by Australian publisher Imaginites.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (108) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Hal G.P. Colebatch
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POST American| 8.11.11 @ 6:36AM
-----------AS WE REPORTED YEARS AGO----------
"We are using MASSIVE third world
immigration to DESTROY British culture
once and for all, beyond repair ---FOREVER."
TONY BLAIR Fmr PM
(Daily Mail nterview)
Take a look at Caifornia, collapsed Mexico,
the ATF equipped drug cartels, the Ford/Rockefeller
funded and directed 'La Raza', the NewsCorp
backed 'Machete' and the capstone engineered
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agenda worldwide.
'Order Out of Chaos', 'Benny violence',
planned demolition ----the host of self inficted,
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Their Hearts' DE-moralization OP in Norway----
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--------ENOUGH of 'ME--SHALL BALK-MEN'
and MITT 'ROME KNEE'.
-----------------DEMAND TO KNOW-------------------
------------HUAC/BC meets NUREMBERG----------
--------------- STILL think we're joking?--------------
---------------------THINK AGAIN---------------------
Dick Gnome| 8.11.11 @ 8:43AM
WHO let him out again???
Le Cracquere| 8.11.11 @ 8:51AM
The mods, of course. This handle's bidding to have a longer run than his earlier "Dee See" incarnation, and his tinfoil-chapeaued successor will probably go a year before anything's done.
Ryan| 8.11.11 @ 9:42AM
But hey, we read him every time, don't we? I'd like to know where else he posts, to see if he actually responds to anyone...
Dick Nome| 8.11.11 @ 10:21AM
Nobody reads it. It's incoherent and same drivel every time. We just notice it's there again and know he got loose and hasn't been given his meds.
Dan Mathewson| 8.11.11 @ 6:51PM
I read it. It's amusing. Kinda like when P.J. O'Rourke wrote about how it's amusing to read communist propaganda.
Cosmo| 8.12.11 @ 3:02AM
Gary B| 8.11.11 @ 6:42AM "The English establishment is so devoted to political correctness that its afraid of its own rioters. They should probably declare martial law, but they don't have the courage to protect or defend themselves. "
Gary has it right....A few rounds from an AK47 would have put an end to these riots pronto. Hooded rioters should be shot on sight....ask questions later...
Bill| 8.11.11 @ 9:26AM
I want to throw out my surveillance grid, but I can't find it. I haven't looked in my furnace yet; is it there?
Bill| 8.11.11 @ 11:52AM
Could it be in my propane grill?
TexasMom2012| 8.11.11 @ 1:07PM
It's in your iPhone, shush!
Dan Mathewson| 8.11.11 @ 6:56PM
"Base, they're on to us! They've found the surveillance grid app in the iPhone! Base, come in please! What do we do!
The number you have reached is no longer in service. Please check the number and try again later."
Nancy| 8.12.11 @ 11:01AM
LOL dammm, the grid has been had! rally up the rakes and hoes for hand to hand ops. dull your tinfoil hats to proffer a low signature as well!
alas, must we defer our concerns to frivolity, and leave the conquest to the weak?
Gary B| 8.11.11 @ 6:42AM
The English establishment is so devoted to political correctness that its afraid of its own rioters. Question: Isn't the power of political correctness really just fear of the press? They should probably declare martial law, but they don't have the courage to protect or defend themselves. Their basic values have been turned upside down... like ours.
chuck| 8.11.11 @ 6:47AM
Liberalism crushes the human spirit.
Anyone care to argue that?
Gary B| 8.11.11 @ 6:57AM
Nope... 'cause you're correct.
Seek| 8.11.11 @ 11:44AM
Religious fundamentalism (all kinds) has done a pretty good job of crushing spirits, too. As has Communism.
Alan Brooks| 8.11.11 @ 11:53AM
American religion is commercialized pigslop.
Alan Brooks| 8.11.11 @ 11:54AM
Coolidge was no fool, though he was GOP:
the business of America IS business
Thrasher| 8.11.11 @ 2:36PM
SIlly post..Not worthy of debate
Quartermaster| 8.11.11 @ 6:47AM
What we are seeing is what has brought tyrants to power in the past. The rhyming of history is an indictment against mankind. Man never learns.
Mike D.| 8.11.11 @ 7:45AM
The Brits have chosen to learn their history the hard way. This is what worshipping in the church of leftism brings as results. Communism and Socialism are the greatest evils man has ever brought upon themselves. Its a slavery building ideology designed to empower a few over the many. What leftists can't control, they WILL destroy. Of course, all in the name of "Social Justice" and "for the good of the people" according to the historically retarded useful idiots.
Occam's Tool| 8.11.11 @ 10:58AM
My year in NZ taught me that the Brits are now scum. Far from the People who stopped Hitler they have fallen; they are now DhimmiCrats of the Worst order. When one abandons responsibilities, one gives up to nihilism, as Ron Paul would have us do.
Clint| 8.11.11 @ 11:44AM
You're A Nut Bag Slandering Israel Firster Fanatic Tool Job.
Dr. Ron Paul,
"Through perverse court decisions and years of cultural indoctrination, the elitist, secular Left has managed to convince many in our nation that religion must be driven from public view. The justification is always that someone, somewhere, might possibly be offended or feel uncomfortable living in the midst of a largely Christian society, so all must yield to the fragile sensibilities of the few. The ultimate goal of the anti-religious elites is to transform America into a completely secular nation, a nation that is legally and culturally biased against Christianity. "
The Tea Party Steps On Tool Job's Face.
Wipe Your Feet.
Ken (Old Texican)| 8.11.11 @ 12:05PM
Clint,
well spoken...every day.
You clearly represent Ron Paul's followers.
Yuck!
Clint| 8.11.11 @ 12:48PM
Apparently, You're Still A GOP Ruling Elite RINO-CINO Apologist Flunkie, Kenny The Squirrel.
The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On Kenny The Squirrels Face.
Wipe Your Feet.
darcy| 8.11.11 @ 2:45PM
Despite Clint's rude and immature "style," the Ron Paul quote is right on target. State-imposed secularism/leftist liberalism is destroying this country as it has destroyed Britain. As for Ron Paul, even a clock is right twice a day.
Drunken Sailor| 8.11.11 @ 12:38PM
Nice shine on those jack boots Clint, but your wife beater t-shirt has a stain on it.
Clint| 8.11.11 @ 12:53PM
So Does Your Blue Dress, Sweetie Pie.
The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On Drunken Swabbie's Face.
Wipe Your Feet.
Drunken Sailor| 8.11.11 @ 12:59PM
Get it straight that is Dress Blues and next time wipe your chin.
Quartermaster| 8.11.11 @ 6:47AM
What we are seeing is what has brought tyrants to power in the past. The rhyming of history is an indictment against mankind. Man never learns.
Timothy L. Pennell| 8.11.11 @ 7:50AM
EXACTLY the same thing, that is going on in THIS COUNTRY.
There is something WRONG with these people. Something GENETIC.
There's a REASON that HAITI, is the way it is, while, on the other side of the Island, the Dominican Republic, is fine.
ALL of Africa isn't a TOTAL DISASTER. Just the parts with Black Self Rule.
Detroit. Philadelphia. Camden. Newark. Baltimore. The list goes on and on.
Once, THRIVING Metropolises. Now? Not so much.
The Democrat White Liberal has achieved what the Democrat KKK Grand Wizard, could only dream about. The Democrat White Liberal has put the SLAVE, back on the Plantation. Subservient to his White Master, for the SCRAPS from his table. But, even the Democrat White Liberal, can't be blamed for all of it.
It CANNOT be a coincidence, that Blacks are on the BOTTOM RUNG of Society, in every country that they live in.
Am I wrong?
buckeyeman| 8.11.11 @ 11:41AM
You're not wrong, but you weren't supposed to say what you did.
dufas_duck| 8.11.11 @ 1:54PM
The left have succeeded where Charles Manson had failed.
KyMouse| 8.11.11 @ 7:53AM
So many churches in England have been turned into restaurants, shops or "flats."
Well, when you take away the hope of heaven and the fear of hell, this is what you get.
C Smith| 8.11.11 @ 9:47AM
I took my father for a drive one evening not too long ago. Over old country roads that were once so familiar. Latent memories brightened his face at every turn: “I used to plow that field for Jake, or plant that one for Dave, or harvest that for Marlon.” Returning from the war, he and his often envied Oliver 70, purchased for several hundred dollars and a mule, not only tended his land but that of a multitude of others, land he knew as intimately as his own.
Suddenly, pointing toward the fading sun, he became disturbed: “There used to be a church there and a graveyard.” But I saw nothing but the silhouette of a fencerow entwined with reeds and vines. Yes, there had been a church, and perhaps as many as a dozen other one room sanctuaries scattered along that dusty meandering road, but like this one, little or nothing now remains. The voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride are now forever silent.
These forgotten churches of fair meadows and vale are so unlike those of today: No satellite receiver affixed to a steeple. No sermons to “spiritually” download or hymns with copyright code. No worship bands to rival a night club or bar. Or messages patterned after some Hollywood movie or star. No popular book studies other then the King James. No “Lights, Action, Camera” directing performers to take the stage. And sometimes not even a pastor. But they continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers in a time when apostasy could travel little faster than an occasional circuit rider, in a time when Satan could deceive but one church at a time
http://popularapostasy.blogspo.....art-3.html
TexasMom2012| 8.11.11 @ 1:13PM
Agreed. But you forgot to mention the new music. In our small church even the hymns are unrecognizable. I have a friend that calls it "Jesus is my boyfriend" music. I really really miss the old hymns.
dufas_duck| 8.11.11 @ 1:59PM
Results of atheists rejoicing on making the right wrong right....
darcy| 8.11.11 @ 2:50PM
I'd be seriously wondering about what other changes have been made, especially to doctrine and preaching, if I were you, TexasMom2012.
Skippy| 8.12.11 @ 2:58PM
Ditto.
I cannot sing the stupid "praise" songs with the three repeating lines projected on the big screen behind the pastor and the rock band.
"Jesus is my boyfriend". LOL
Your friend is deeply insightful.
Texas Jayde| 8.13.11 @ 12:57PM
oh Texas mom, i couldn't agree more. i call that kind of worship music, "worship lite". the message of Christ is real meat in the songs of the old Baptist Hymnal and churches hardly ever use them anymore.
Mike D.| 8.11.11 @ 9:48AM
There are concepts that build and create societies in a positive manner and there are those that destroy and destruct. History is loaded with examples and yet we have imbeciles who just can't seem to see that factual evidence for all to behold.
darcy| 8.11.11 @ 2:47PM
Short, sweet, and to the point, KyMouse.
Louis Jenkins| 8.11.11 @ 8:20AM
It's rather obvious that these people do not care to know right from wrong. An under-segment of British society has rose up to take what they believe belongs to them. Chances are these people have never worked and have spent their entire lives on the Government dole. Sounds familiar doesn't it? The same thing is going on here in the USA. Get ready, the accounting is coming.
gearjammer| 8.11.11 @ 8:27AM
I am gonna run for president. Start off by writing a book. I have a title- " while England slept,again". Now, I need a ghost writer and a rich daddy.
loulou| 8.11.11 @ 10:35AM
Funny!
POST American| 8.11.11 @ 8:32AM
"---WHY aren't any of these so-called
'revolutionaries' going after the Banksters
in the City of London, or the Rothchild
mansion? ---WHY are they burning down
Mom and Pop stores? --and dragging ordinary
people from their cars? -striping and beating
them? -----This is being engineered!
--CLEARLY!"
-ALEX JONES
(yesterday)
"NEVER join a mob. Mobs are ALWAYS
directed by a few provocateurs ---from
Rome ---from the French Revolution and
Bolshevik coup d'etat ---they're set up.
Almost ALWAYS used by the 'Big Boys'
as an instrument of control. NEVER, EVER
join a mob."
-ALAN WATT
(superb coverage online)
----------HERE! -----HERE!
Nancy| 8.12.11 @ 3:25AM
here we sit, opining away, accomplishing naught but self expression.
i say, out to the street and lane my mates, engage and suppress the wrongdoers as our leaders have casually abandoned our cause!
ahhh, but a mob we would become, thus alike as they, and as foul to our own cause as we to they.
remand thyself to quiet prayer and seek passage through to the light...
criminality is as easily confabulated from verse or rhyme, all must beware the time!
Sam Vaughn| 8.11.11 @ 8:47AM
We are witnessing the complete and utter failure of socialism and liberal policies that normalize dysfunctional behaviour and criminalize normal behaviour. When the only remaining "moral" compass is the "state" morality ceases to exist.
Dick Gnome| 8.11.11 @ 8:52AM
Contrary to what certain atheistic and agnostic participants here think, Western Civilization and civil society is grounded in religion, that would be Judeo-Christian religion. When that grounding is lost a vacuum exists that is filled the tyranny and anarchy of nihilistic self aggrandizement and greed. The civil society disintegrates and is lost. Britain is in the throes of it. America, pay attention. Liberalism can be fatal.
Occam's Tool| 8.11.11 @ 11:00AM
Correct, Richard. And, I might mention, absence of that religion also results in sterility, both Intellectual and Literal. Without Children, a Civiilzation dies.
Seek| 8.11.11 @ 11:56AM
I've known plenty of "secular" homes with children. And there have plenty of pundits and thinkers on the Right over the decades who have/had no children. Think Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Pat Buchanan, Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard, Richard Weaver, John Attarian, Sam Francis and any number of conservative celibate priests. Or maybe I'm missing something?
dufas_duck| 8.11.11 @ 2:05PM
At least those you mentioned have a moral compass which is lost on most of the leftists that I have known...
When one excuses crime because they have had a bad childhood, or they had grown up poor. you begin down the situational ethics path which always leads to some type of destruction.
Drunken Sailor| 8.11.11 @ 4:26PM
You just described the majority of the inner city populations and the whole "Gangsta" Rap movement and I totally agree
Franco| 8.11.11 @ 9:13AM
I take exception to the inclusion of Lucien Freud in the "degenerate art" category. He's actually a marvelous, warts-and-all painter of the human figure.
Anyway, during the Luddite riots in northern England in 1811 the British army found several units to spare even as the Peninsular War in Spain against Napoleon was in full swing. You know the old, sad joke about the impotent London bobby--'Stop, thief--or I'll...I'lll...blow my whistle!"
Let the Islamists have the damned country if the British government can't even take care of basic law and order. Better yet, grant British subjects the right to own firearms and then let the Islamists take over.
Now, that would be interesting.
Kevin Dunn| 8.11.11 @ 11:34AM
Are you trying to ay Lucien Freud is not UGL:Y?
ray bob| 8.11.11 @ 9:15AM
what army?
james wilson| 8.11.11 @ 9:19AM
It is not that the rabble have been raised without knowing right from wrong, but that they have been deliberately reversed.
Bill| 8.11.11 @ 9:24AM
Before lamenting too judgmentally the riots in England, take a look around here in the United States. The Wisconsin State Fair, Central City, and other places, have had their own race riots recently.
Seek| 8.11.11 @ 11:52AM
Use the term "black riots." "Race riots" is too broad and generic a term. It was blacks, and only blacks, who instigated the latest riots.
Thrasher| 8.11.11 @ 2:40PM
Not accurate nor true..BTW I prefer rebellions
Bill| 8.11.11 @ 3:20PM
Rebellions against what?
Thrasher| 8.11.11 @ 3:28PM
The list is long from police harrassment to redlining to lousy educational offerings
Drunken Sailor| 8.11.11 @ 4:29PM
Give me a break, rebellion? Attacking other people at fairs, etc. is not a rebellion and is not going to change things for the better.
Ken (Old Texican)| 8.11.11 @ 9:26AM
Hal,
thank you. The best article I have read on the subject.
Reminds me of "Clockwork Orange" coming to fruition in the real world.
My "future history" (Just published at amazon.com kindle store) plays out the results of what is happening here now.
I hope you will review it.
kindle... "america alone said no"
Ryan| 8.11.11 @ 9:45AM
As the article ALMOST alludes to, this is the failure of a supposedly Christian congregation properly focusing on the mission of the Church - to spread the Gospel. When it gets watered down into Christianity-lite, with the individual, rather than Christ worshiped and glorified, this is what you get.
The problem is culture. The problem is the removal of Christianity.
David| 8.11.11 @ 10:02AM
As we watch western civilization struggle, lets hope the United States will completely reject liberalism in 2012. Let us also be thankful that their are no enemies of the west in a position to challenge us militarily, as we would not win a war right now with a powerful trained and armed advisary.
It's time we got back to basics of our beliefs and not be afraid to admit that we are Christian nations. If the non-believers want to be offended let them. We have a right to our beleifs every bit as much as the non beleivers have a right to theirs. However, the non beleivers have NO RIGHT to keep us from beleiving. It is time that majorities in these democracies stood up and demanded more from our governments in protecting our heritage and customs.
Seek| 8.11.11 @ 11:48AM
You're attacking a straw man. Nobody is preventing Christians from believing or worshipping, least of all the government. It's not the job of the State to promote, any more than to suppress, religion.
TexasMom2012| 8.11.11 @ 1:22PM
When a valedictorian's speech is censored because she might mention her personal faith then government has interfered by taking a stand against faith... If everyone was allowed free speech about everything including their personal beliefs then we would have true free speech. But we don't because the government restricts the speech of people of faith but not the speech of others. I have a big problem with that and I would bet that most people would just like the right to talk about their faith. That is why you hear so much anger from Christians. We are extremely tired of being told to basically shut up... At the same time the left uses God to justify their social programs.
dufas_duck| 8.11.11 @ 2:11PM
So you are saying that it is correct for America to be supporting the building of Mosques anywhere in the world but not to support the building of Christian churches ??
Pelligrino| 8.11.11 @ 2:31PM
David, you are right. Thank you. Our successes in these few nations that have risen well beyond the rest of the world lies in forefathers who esteemed Christian ethics, built them into our foundations, and faithfully sought to serve the God of the Bible in their lives.
Plymouth Rock anyone? First Landing in Virginia and then Jamestown.
From the very first days, the very first arrivals, it was clear.
That is our heritage. That is our culture, our mores, our customs.
If we abandon them, we'll have far worse than these petty-scale riots on our hands.
Thrasher| 8.11.11 @ 2:41PM
Never I am a Black Seminole and your Christian religion was violent and caused 2 domestic holocausts on our American soil
Drunken Sailor| 8.11.11 @ 4:40PM
And the Seminoles were never violent? Give me a break. My ancestors include the Shawnee, which made up a small partion of the Seminoles and even I know better. Quit living in the past. You intolerant attitude toward Christianity today is a mirror image of the Intolerants shown to the early Indian tribes. We see how well that went don't we?
Drunken Sailor| 8.11.11 @ 4:40PM
Correction: Intolerance shown the early Indian Tribes
Petronius| 8.11.11 @ 10:03AM
Britain is sacrificing what's left of itself upon the altar of it's liberal self image. Doing a 180 and allowing armed police to shoot the looters would constitute open admission of their folly and errors. But then they couldn't live with themselves after. What would their friends in Fleet St. say about them in the redtops?
Anommynous| 8.11.11 @ 10:10AM
"A large part of a whole generation literally does not know right from wrong, good from evil."
The atheist moral relativists would tell you that there is no such thing. Right and wrong is a subjective judgment that each individual decides for himself. And apparently, for some individuals, they consider it "good" and "right" for them to participate in wanton destruction of other people's property.
Who was it who said that more Britons believe in global warming than believe in God?
"It has been the Church of England's function and duty to provide the population with a moral education and compass, and over several centuries its establishment was vaguely justified in these terms."
But in reality, the Church of England was founded so that Henry VIII could get a divorce and remarry. If the king can marry whomever he wants, why can't a homosexual?
Kevin Dunn| 8.11.11 @ 10:01PM
That is why the Church of England was founded. but not why it continued. Nelson, Wellington, Gladstone, Disraeli etc did not care about Henry VIII's divorce, but they did care about a good society.
loulou| 8.11.11 @ 10:33AM
"Already the BNP is putting out leaflets demanding the presence of the Army on the streets." The Army SHOULD be on the streets. As long as they have more than bats and rubber bullets.
Mike D.| 8.11.11 @ 11:46AM
These Socialists see these rioters as victims, not something they created therefore that can not enforce the law as needed. Doing so would contradict the religion of utopianism.
Pat| 8.11.11 @ 1:21PM
Loulou, you couldn’t be more perceptive, the Army should be called out immediately but never is. And why? Because the politicians have their pride, won’t admit they and their police forces are incapable of controlling the situation, worried about how they appear to the voters if they yell for help – like weaklings, not strong leaders? One can only guess at their hidden motives and our British cousins appear just as stubbornly self-serving and stupid as our American politicians when it comes to quickly admitting defeat and letting the Army take control.
And it’s not like the Mayor or Police Commissioner intends to face the rioting mob alone, standing unarmed in the street, addressing their unruly constituents and singlehandedly ordering the looters to return to their homes or local pubs. That would be a surefire way to experience what it feels like to be hit repeatedly with rocks and bottles all over your body until you finally pass out. Instead, the politicians will prudently remain within their fortified command posts bravely directing their police forces in futile efforts to stop the rioting – they’re not suicidal, just vain.
Of course us Americans have no reason to gloat. Our mayors don’t call on the Army either, at least not before many innocents have been badly beaten or killed. Take L. A. in 92’ or Detroit 1967 for example. Detroit’s riot started on Saturday night, the Army wasn’t fully deployed until the following Thursday. Those weekend warriors, the National Guard were initially called out once Detroit’s finest admitted their failure. The Guardsmen were issued rifles but no live ammunition for the first day, someone might get shot was the reasoning for the excessive caution - and the rioters fully appreciated the Mayor’s concern for their safety and continued with their window smashing and looting undeterred.
Like the British Bobby, the American policeman is trained to subdue, transport, book and hold for arraignment. Somehow that didn’t work for Detroit in 67’, doesn’t work for London in 2011 either. When the 82nd Airborne arrived in Detroit, they lacked any professional training in proper handcuffing procedures but promptly killed at least one roof top sniper and all without those mandated "fair warnings" or arrest warrants besides – what an injustice. Over 40 people lost their lives during Detroit’s riot, but how many less would have died if the Army had been called out immediately?
Occam's Tool| 8.11.11 @ 11:02AM
In the killing of these rioters there will be found no great societal loss.
TexasMom2012| 8.11.11 @ 1:26PM
I would say it would be a net positive. Hopefully before they have reproduced. Plus as Dirty Harry said, 'no trial, no report to file!' saves trees too ;D
idalily| 8.11.11 @ 2:24PM
But the media will mourn their deaths for decades. Heck, Neil Young might even write a song about it.
Skippy| 8.12.11 @ 3:10PM
Another weak-ass BS song nobody likes or listens to?
Oh, THAT Neil Young.
mentis| 8.11.11 @ 11:07AM
When it is the state, ie the current politicians, that believe they can define the ethical code of the state, chaos of many kinds result.
The population forgets that the ethics came first, and the ethics have been under development for thousands of years. Tinker with them is playing with dynamite.
The old adage about history sounds trite, but our last seventy years demonstrates it's validity.
Maddox| 8.11.11 @ 11:12AM
They know right from wrong, they are simply not held accountable. They have learned the leftist teachings well. They believe they are entitled to use violence and destruction to what they are entitled. They are used by leftists as leverage against threats to their power.
This mentality is the same of leftist politicians in our government to wealth and power, "if I can't have it, no one will. I will destroy it."
David| 8.11.11 @ 11:39AM
I was arguing with some Britons earlier today. Despite complaining repeatedly to me, that their problems are caused by political centralization and economic control of the economy, they suggested to me that the only solution to their problems was more political and economic centralization! I mean lest they turn out like Canada and the United States.
CHummel| 8.11.11 @ 11:42AM
When you promote taxing and fining wealth, you are participating in mob theft and looting.
TexasMom2012| 8.11.11 @ 1:28PM
That is why people on welfare should NOT get to vote until off the dole.
Seek| 8.11.11 @ 11:46AM
What we're witnessing is the fruits of open- borders immigration policy. I've known some pretty decent white liberals in my time. They might be wrong on many things, but they don't degenerate into Third World maniacs. Blacks do.
TexasMom2012| 8.11.11 @ 1:30PM
Have you see all the enviro whackos? They do the same exact crap these London thugs are doing. They are not black, they are liberal nutjobs.
Thrasher| 8.11.11 @ 2:43PM
Get over your obession with hate for Black people..It will give you worms..lol,lol,lol
Drunken Sailor| 8.11.11 @ 4:54PM
Now that made me choke on my drink. LOL
Jack London| 8.11.11 @ 12:40PM
'There may well be a connection between the massive breakdown of morality and the recent revelations of widespread and largely unpunished corruption in the political class, with blatant theft from the public purse on both sides of Parliament.'
Not to mention the bankers and CEOs grabbing billions in our consumer driven culture.
simon templar| 8.11.11 @ 2:14PM
Cuba is not this time of year....go there.
The Traveler | 8.11.11 @ 1:05PM
We are raising a society of fools. There is no consequence, and if there happens to be, blame it on someone else.
When we put our hands on a hot stove as a child, we learned not to do that again.
When someone puts their hand on the stove, finds a way to blame the burn on the stove, gets a govt handout because they had a troubled past (and now a burned hand), and is urged to 'experiment' with the stove burner, we become fools.
Thrasher| 8.11.11 @ 2:14PM
This is such a shallow an dogma driven commentary..At what point does conservative pundits evolve and elevate the depth and scope of thier intellectual perspectives...This type of posturing , denial and dogma is offensive
Pelligrino| 8.11.11 @ 2:17PM
At the outset of this article, the author wrote, "It is as if the country has been living on a ticking bomb that no one was aware existed."
Impossible.
"No one was aware?"
You were not aware?
You've not been walking the streets of Britain for the last 25 years.
Surely you have eyes and ears.
Pelligrino| 8.11.11 @ 2:39PM
Gotta take the author to task on another stupid line in his article:
"A large part of a whole generation literally does not know right from wrong, good from evil."
Really?
Not even close. No man (or woman) is with an excuse. I don't care where a person grew up, what kind of background. We all know.
Folks, this is liberal-speak. This is the wording of the immature, the feeble-minded, the ones who know no self responsibility.
martin j smith| 8.11.11 @ 4:33PM
My sense is that Great Britain's experience should be in object lesson for us as to what NOT TO DO OR EMULATE. The notion of PC in GB is to the nth degree and much worse even that here--plus consider their legal system is not precisely as it is in the USA. Be that as it may its about politics
and the war between Labor and Conservative ( when I say Labor I mean Socialists or even Communists ). Sadly I see no way the two sides have common ground. The failure to understand or even care about social disintegration resulting from the economic problems and the failure to have cohesion in society are serious problems. Class warfare is a major propaganda tool to cause divisions and bingo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have all of the
ingredients for trouble --oh yes, the lack of law enforcement does not help either. Thus several days of rioting and no response does not help.
rendite| 8.11.11 @ 7:59PM
Actually, despite the many calls to "999" for help that nearly overwhelmed the system in the first two nights in London, there were responses. The problem was the responses often meant stand back. Police stood off about 1/4 mile away -- if it was JUST window smashing, looting, vandalism, some damaging.
This is, of course, pathetic.
Orders were to stand back and not engage -- in far to many places.
The English people have every right to be furious at their police services.
Kevin Dunn| 8.11.11 @ 10:11PM
The police hves made mistakes for a long time, but the people who the English should be furious with is themselves. They have put up with decades of bad policies.
Mistral| 8.11.11 @ 5:18PM
50 years of government mismanagement and politicking with education as the party political soccer ball has neutered schooling so much that two generations believe you can do as you please. Together with absolute interference in how families are run and encouraging couples to be unfaithful to each other, divorce easily and cohabit short-term more cheaply than married partners with children, british politicians are to blame for their total amoralism and incompetence. Post-war materialism and consumerism promoted by amoral governments based almost entirely on economic imperatives have done the rest. Now that Chrisitian principles are no longer taught to children in the home and at school what else can be expected from a society that is no longer cohesive and has no common set of values.
Mistral| 8.11.11 @ 5:22PM
Indeed, Mr Cameron - criminal behaviour on a large gratuitous scale - correct. And who has promoted the virtue of greed for the last 60 years?
Richard Baker| 8.11.11 @ 5:36PM
So please tell me again where liberal/socialist ideas work?
Lord Karth| 8.11.11 @ 6:45PM
In the faculty rooms on American college campi.
Your servant,
Lord Karth
shipley130| 8.11.11 @ 5:59PM
As I listen to the "MeMeMe" generation at the apartment complex pool, this generation just starting out in their adult lives is a little worrisome. I really don't think my generation was quite that bad, or rude.
Martin Owens| 8.11.11 @ 6:41PM
" This used to be a cradle of civilization,
Now look what they done, it's the death of a nation"
Ian Hunter
POST American| 8.12.11 @ 3:28AM
---------------------BOTTOM LINE---------------------
When that LONG overdue prosecution OP
for the workers, directors, funders and instigators
of stealth Globalization gets in gear ---you'll
find things settle down and clear up with marvelous speed.
---------------HUAC meets NUREMBERG-----------
-------------------------YOU KNOW IT'S COMING