Riots and Rebellion

The only surprise about the current mayhem in London and, by extension, other major cities in England, is that no-one in authority could have predicted that it would have happened. In case anyone has not noticed, there's a phenomenon that the marginalized, the disenchanted and the unheard have discovered and that is the unifying power of instant communication in galvanizing their urges to protest. If you throw in a certain confusion in the whole realm of values, discipline, privileges and rights, then you have a potentially explosive cocktail, as we are seeing. A number of the instigators are almost certainly sad cases seeking some affirmation and some antidote to their own feelings of inadequacy, but a larger majority does feel disconnected from the society in which they live.

One part of the problem, and only one part, is that there are fewer than ever opportunities for young people to hear and be heard. In some countries, that's never really been a feature of life anyway, but in others, like the UK, the eroding of the traditional vehicles for that to take place as in schools, churches, youth organizations and, dare I say it, families, has led to a volatile situation - something akin to the blind leading the blind and the deaf not paying attention! Where are the young being required to articulate cogent arguments and defend their points of view as well as listening to the counter-arguments? “Young” is a fairly broad category as this situation has been going on for some time so there are victims of the moral void group still languishing in their confusion well into their thirties.

Where an approach to life has become in the slightest way habitual, there's no easy solution - everyone knows how hard it is to break a habit. However, there is an opportunity for those in positions of power and influence to start the dialogues that may lead to the improvements. In their favor, is the over-riding desire of the vast majority of people for a civilized life, not the law of the jungle; so we all want the same solution. Reasoned, caring voices must be heard and they must prevail. I hope they do. Before we feel entirely too complacent in Beautiful BC, we should remember our own recent ’night of shame’ and learn from that as well as from the deeper social ills that events in the UK are manifesting. That’s only farther down the same road.