It’s easy to condemn. It’s harder to try and understand. It’s easy, when we have money and jobs and people who love us, to label others as scum. But it’s more complicated than that.
I made a documentary series on riots a few years ago with James Brown called I Predict A Riot. We spoke to many people who had been in riots and they all spoke of the exhilaration of the mob. How exciting it was to be part of something bigger.
If you are lost and unloved, the mob and rioting can be a beautiful thing. It can give you power. People notice you. They cower in your wake. You are no longer alone, you belong. We spoke to a lot of football hooligans and many started out like this. Looking for a family. Where you all had a common aim and looked out for each other.
Imagine if your heart has never experienced love; If you have never been hugged by your mother; If you have no father and no father figures or male role models in your life; If your overriding emotion is anger, an anger and frustration so powerful that you can’t articulate it; A life so devoid of education that you don’t possess the words. We don’t like to admit it but there are kids like that all over London, some growing up in council estates just yards from our nice middle class houses.
I feel part of society. I feel I have an investment in it. I don’t want to smash up my local shops. I don’t want my neighbourhood to be destroyed. These people don’t think like that. They don’t have that concept. They have never been taught the rules of society. My baby drops things on the floor and laughs. Breaking things is fun. You need someone to tell you that it’s wrong. You need to learn it.
I haven’t spoken personally to any of the rioters of this week but I bet there are some who come from broken lives and would describe the last few days as they best they have ever had.
Of course there will also be professional criminals who are taking advantage of the chaos. And there will also be little fuckers who do know the difference between right and wrong, do have a loving mum and dad, and just are enjoying the thrill of the riot and smashing windows and looting. But if we are honest, wouldn’t many of us, when we were kids, been tempted to join in? I know I would. It would have only been the disappointment in my mother’s eyes and the fear of what my dad would do to me that would have held me back.
You have a point there – It’s easy to condemn and I would add it is hard to be example of what is right. Violence is always wrong, and bigger violence is not an answer to it.
I like your writing. Have nice life man!
Bang on the money
I wish everyone across the pond safety!
“I bet there are some who come from broken lives and would describe the last few days as they best they have ever had.” These are the exact word that I said to my mum the day after the riots. If you have always been a failure in the educational system then the only self esteem you have are your designer clothes, your biceps and your gang friends. I have no idea how we solve this other than stop trying to force children to do academic studies when something more practical would be better for them, more discipline in school ( no tolerating kids swearing at teachers, easier suspensions for state schools for disruptive children and parents being held accountable more). Would be nice to see parents no longer buying blackberries, iphones and ipads for their children because the UK is so materialistic and money really does not buy you happiness. Parents are to blame here as they are not giving hope to their children. They don’t support them at school with homework, they don’t try to get them to read and they don’t back up the teachers. If the parents don’t have jobs then they need to mobilise themselves and move to where there is a job, get some qualifications. Teachers need to be able to take out those that are struggling and just give them lessons on maths and english/reading, not anything else until they CAN do it. What is the point of a 9 year old studying the Romans or Ancient Egyptians if they cannot even read or add up to 20? It will take money or mobilisation of educated parents that could support them.But these kids should never be leaving school without any qualifications, either practical or academic and that is the fault of the education system, along with the parents. Sorry…rant over!
Exactly what I think..only phrased in a much more eloquent way! It’s upsetting that it spread beyond London, although thankfully there haven’t been any copycat riots in other countries.
How refreshing to read such a considered response to the riots. It’s reassuring to realise there are still people like you around that have compassion for fellow humans despite their actions. Well said.
Just might add that not all young people have “gang friends”. The people that have been caught looting represent a mix and doubt all have “gang friends”.
Like the post says it is very easy to condemn when we have what we have, it shouldn’t be an us and them situation. Maybe we need to llok at ourselves and see whta we’re doing in society…like the saying goes if you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem.
Very succinct article on a touchy issue.
I watched in horror as this was happening. Two major riots this year, one in Vancouver, now one in the UK. What is this world coming to?
Write nice.
Like your article.
Very worried about my friends who live in the UK.
We take the approach that its mostly the parents fault. Your biggest job when that kid is born is to train them to behave in certain ways. IF your an idiot, live off the system, loot, riot, take money for not working and basically glum off the system, then what do you expect your kids will do.
Parents, grow up and teach your kids how to live.
Just relieved that they ended as quickly as they started……
On the first day I was worried as one of my best friend is into London and I picked phone called him and he said he is all right with his family but riots may hit their life too. But now all is normal
Think you have hit the nail on the head with last comment. “It would have only been the disappointment in my mother’s eyes and the fear of what my dad would do to me that would have held me back.”
For most of us i think that applies but unfortunately today too many parents do not appear to have installed those feelings in their kids.
True indeed! Like you said, “it’s easy to condemn”. Congratulation on this well written article. You changed my perspective on the situation entirely. Thank you
Daddy dazed, could you please tell us your name?
Your website is pretty amazing and we need to quote it for our school project.
PLEASE!
Thank you!
Its nice to read a honest opinion from a Londoner on the event. Brave of you to admit you may have been tempted to take part in your youth, I believe that’s true for many of us though few will admit it.