Sir, – The breakdown of public order on the streets of Britain has more to do with simple criminality than an inarticulate way of expressing dissatisfaction with the prevailing socio/economic environment (Letters, August 10th). The vast majority of the British people are appalled at what they see and this is graphically illustrated by images of hundreds of volunteers up and down the country taking to the streets with brooms and brushes in hand to clear up the mess.
To suggest that government cuts, relative deprivation or being dislocated from the body politic are justifications or reasons for the current disturbances is fanciful. More to do with a malfunction of the moral compass of the youngsters involved, I suspect. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – We don’t get many laughs from this ConDem administration. However, I emitted a loud Ulster guffaw on hearing Home Secretary Theresa May declaring to the world’s media that “Water-cannon and plastic bullets are weapons of last resort for the police in the United Kingdom”.
Yes, against black Britons obviously, but not against white Paddies in Northern Ireland – which, as you know, is as British as Finchley. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Those columnists and letter-writers trying to attribute the riots in Britain to the economic downturn are wrong. What about the vast majority of people affected by the recession: are they burning down their local shopping centre? No they’re not.
Those responsible for the riots are part of a generation who seem to think they should be handed a Hollywood-lifestyle without doing anything to attain it. They’ve grown up in a society where teachers, police officers and others in authority are terrified to do their jobs properly in case they’re sacked or sued.
Most of them couldn’t spell the word “recession”, much less care whether we’re in one or not. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – As social analysts and politicians debate why a rioter would steal goods and destroy houses, or for that matter why a white-collar criminal would amass other people’s savings, or a councillor accept a planning bribe, or a developer offer it, one explanatory avenue is closed.
Nietzsche was right, we have killed God and the people celebrating his death have not realised that the sun will now no longer rise in the morning and we will have to light our own meagre moral lanterns in the enveloping darkness. This new enlightenment ushers in a brave lonesome world in which there is no ultimate place of divine justice, nor the possibility of personal salvation, forgiveness and transformation. We’re well past that kind of thing now, thank God. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Munro Moore suggests (August 10th) that “middle England does not know how to express itself” and is surprised “that there has as yet not been more release of the pent-up anger across Europe”. There is no doubt that much resentment does exist across Europe due to the severe nature of our current predicaments. Nevertheless, much of what we have seen of the London riots on our TV screens has more to do with sheer thuggery than legitimate protest.
The best and most effective forms of expression in a democracy are free speech and the liberty to vote – precious and much taken for granted gifts denied to many people across the globe. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I am wondering about the wisdom of cancelling the England football match against the Netherlands. Not to be facetious, but there is nothing on the television these “summer” nights. Perhaps if the rioters had the match to watch, they would stay at home. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I’ve had a sleepless night of worry over the recent rioting. It seems it has spread like a virus not only in London but Birmingham and Manchester. My daughter has mentioned her fears even in such a beautiful city as Oxford.
We ask: “What can we do?” Leave it to the police – bring in the army – all to be considered perhaps but what else? The answer may be too simple in many eyes – prayer. Some will disregard this notion immediately; but there are many testimonials to the power of prayer around the world, too numerous to cite here.
What if at noon each day people paused and prayed for peace? “Let us offer each other a sign of peace” is said at every Mass. Instead of this, what if we pause and concentrate on sending peace to the troubled souls who perpetuate this mindless violence causing fear, injury and in some instances death? We have nothing to lose and much to gain. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – In a world where every narcissist “tweets” up to 40 times a day and Twitter “followers” count for more than real friends, are the UK riots that surprising? Or are we simply witnessing another group of people idiotically expressing themselves in order to garner attention, something they obviously never received at home? – Yours, etc,