London's Burning

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Permalink Reply by Peter James Smith on August 9, 2011 at 0:47

Lynda. I do live in England, who do you think is responsible. Amen come lord Jesus

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Permalink Reply by Peter James Smith on August 9, 2011 at 1:03

Lynda. Would anyone who was following Jesus act as theses people are in looting and burning.If people that follow Christ are in prison it would not be for arson and theft. It would be for defending the truth. Amen come lord Jesus

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Permalink Reply by Jamaica Me Cum From on August 9, 2011 at 1:21

 

Peter, this is such a stupid point to make I wonder you dare. If, as it seems, quite a few of these young people are from the black community they are likely to have been brought up in homes that are at least nominally Christian, but who is making that point do you think? This has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with criminality, and Christians, like the rest of the population, also behave in criminal ways. 

And just in case you think this is a racist post, let me remind you that I am part Jamaican.

LBB

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Permalink Reply by Stevie on August 9, 2011 at 4:02

You want enlightenment?

The Met shoot a young black man who, according to some claims, was already in their custody. The police did not inform the family and ignored the protest of the local community demanding justice and information to bring in the riot squad. By the evening a young and defenceless black woman was attacked and beaten by riot police. These people are the ones who've experienced life at the bottom of a grossly unequal society. The riots are not a cause but a symptom. Are the rioters atheists? If they reflect the make-up of the local community many of them will be atheists just as many of them will be Christians of various types. This is a class issue not a religious one.

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Permalink Reply by Londoner on August 9, 2011 at 8:36

The war isn't over race or class, it's to do with the expressions in a man's heart. "As a man thinketh so he is"

 

Please tell me why black youth are causing these riots. For when the white man gets shot you do not see rampaging white youths copycatting the rage over the incident all over different parts of the city.

Most of the thieves and looters attacked the very stores they would shop themselves in- Halfords, Foot Locker, Sainsburys, Co-Operative, Currys etc. Some of the local shops belonged to people who have spent their life savings trying to make a living.

 

Please don't ever use the race/class card. The majority of these hooligans have upon themselves 'Blackberries' Smartphones and at home they have TVs and computers- they are not deprived but they are depraved.

Everyone has to be responsible for their own actions .

 

Back in 77' Notting Hill Carnival, I threw bricks at the police but was it any of my business?- certainly not!

 

Peter James Smith is right, it's only atheists that loot and steal for God has commanded us "Thou shall not steal"

 

 

Londoner

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Permalink Reply by Stevie on August 9, 2011 at 8:41

Perhaps Ken Livingstone should be heard out and not be criticised for trying to score political points. I found his voice last night was perhaps one of the most sane when he was asked what he thought might be the root of the problem. One of his comments was that the poorer communities feel that politicians and social institutions have very little interest in the poorer communities. He should know.

The well of frustration on which this outburst has drawn is the result of decades of the destruction of the dreams of a better life for young people. Young working class people, black and white, have been completely disenfranchised. The leaders of the political parties serve the agenda of wealthy and powerful, excuse their crimes and turn their backs on the aspirations of the people they claim to represent. Black youth in particular find themselves over-policed and under protected by a police force that the government's own enquiry found to be "institutionally" racist.The traditional escape route of higher education is already out-of-reach for most and the jobs that are available are casualized and low-paid. I'm only surprised its taken this long to get to this stage.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Mason on August 9, 2011 at 8:42

Wow. You're nuts.

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Permalink Reply by Nick on August 9, 2011 at 8:47

“Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

 

Sorry, wrong riot.

 

Psychologically, if a need is taken away from people then the automatic response is anger (e.g. lack of jobs etc). But maybe there is a spiritual aspect to the current rioting?

I'm hoping no-one dies in the riots, but at the moment it does seem very likely.

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Permalink Reply by Stevie on August 9, 2011 at 8:57

Kev,

Watch out, your delusion is showing. If you can't understand why black youth in London are pissed off then you don't warrant that "Londoner" pseudonym. In a dry forest even a spark will start an inferno. I don't think riots are progressive and it will hurt the local community but its an inevitable outcome from years of frustration. If we want to avoid this then we need to see real change. Unfortunately for you that means coming to terms with reality and not fleeing it as you are prone to doing.

Stevie

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Permalink Reply by Phoebe on August 9, 2011 at 9:06

Hi Stevie,

You try to justify and legitimised mindless violence with your last two posts. Why?   

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Permalink Reply by Phoebe on August 9, 2011 at 10:09

Please don't ever use the race/class card.

 

Hi Londoner,

I totally agree with you, the faux radicals are seemingly suggesting that if one is black or lower class then rioting is to be expected. It is so patronising and so sanctimonious it is beggar's belief, it suggests that as people we do not have morals, dignity or are not free moral agents, but will naturally turn to violence.  

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Permalink Reply by Stevie on August 9, 2011 at 10:12

Phoebe,

You try to justify and legitimised mindless violence with your last two posts. Why? 

That not true - I've tried only to explain the reasons why such an event was inevitable. I don't justify violence but I'm not playing along with the hypocrisy of the media. We've had decades of violence done to the future of our young people. This outburst only came after several violent provocations by a racist police force; the shooting of a man in contetested circumstances and then a mercilessly attack by riot policeman against a young woman knowing full well they'll never be called to account. If you want to see an end to this kind of thing forever then we need to start those making the necessary changes.

Stevie

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