Hi everyone, I'm excited that so much thoughtful comment, as well as poetry, has emerged from this debate! Thanks to all.
Just to add to the news and poetry element, I've put a couple more links below:
(1) A link to yesterday's Guardian, which had a poem by Carol Ann Duffy responding to the death of a boy who was killed in that horrendous hit-and-run accident during the riots. It's not such a great poem, but she was at least trying! A very in-the-moment sort of thing.
(2) The general link to The Guardian--overflowing with news still.
Also, I should add to
conny and
Rick's comments that "the broom brigade," the volunteer clean-up team, was also featured in the Los Angeles Times, way over here on the West Coast! I'm so glad to get the coverage.
Thanks,
Alex for poems. I agree, James Fenton is the best when it comes to the poetry of war and violence. (His "Selected" says it all.)
Gregory, thanks so much for the transcript. Ah yes, teenagers... I teach them, so I know that their ability to express themselves can be problematic... Also there's the whole issue of "copy cat" violence... the quality of contemporary education... I won't even go there! Except to say to
conny that this might be a partial response to her comment about the "gainfully employed" and children being involved...
I was glad to be reminded of Waugh and the Bollinger/Bullingdon Club (thanks
George, Gregory, Paul). And, wow, I didn't know about PM David Cameron's student rampage! So interesting.
And
Duncan and
ChrisGeorge--thanks for the thoughtful political comments. I'm with you on peaceful non-violence. I also know that underlying conditions spark riots--as happened here in LA after the Rodney King verdict--the riots I mentioned above. When it happened, I was working part-time for the ACLU, where the phones were ringing off the hook. Rodney K. wasn't the only person beaten up by the police, as it turned out. Hundreds and hundreds of people (mostly poor, black, Latino) told their stories--but said they didn't complain about being beaten because they assumed nothing would come of it, since the police were involved... Subsequently, we had the Christopher Commission, the retraining of the LAPD and more... And that's just one aspect of it all!
So Chris, in answer to your question... riots have happened here--and might again! I hope not, though.
Now the links:
Poem by Carol Ann Duffy
http://http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/12/birmingham-tariq-jahan-poem-duffy
The Guardian: lots of stories and comment
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk