I’m sure by now that most people have heard about the rioting in London. For those that are only just, don’t feel horrible – this news has been slightly buried under market woes, because isn’t it so much more fun to focus on the upper middle class than the underclass?! *sighs*

Having said that, I am not sympathetic with the children who have been looting and rioting across this great nation. As an American, I was taught that it was my proud duty to pull myself up by my bootstraps no matter what the situation, and take care of myself. No jobs? Make your own. No education? There are public libraries – it is about you doing for you. And while this means that as a nation, America isn’t so good at taking care of their own as Britain is, one can concede that the Welfare state means that there are quite a few who feel that they have rights… but not any responsibilities. They feel that by virtue of existing, they should have their way paid and covered, to include all the luxuries that the media has told them that everyone else has. Is it any wonder that, in the face of such entitlement, such a situation could breed itself? After all, I can easily presume they’ve been told to maximise their benefits and do nothing, considering I was all but ordered to stop working by health visitor after my daughter was born; she insisted I should collect maternity pay from the government. No thanks – I like working, mmmkay?

I would also say from the newcomer’s point of view that, I suspect, this sort of backlash couldn’t exist if the nation wasn’t so hellbent on cotton woolling everyone as well… while criminalizing them at the same time. I’ve seen the term ‘lost generation’ recycled in relationship to this incident, and it bears some consideration. These kids have been ‘protected’ from the world and not allowed to get out their youthful bravado and flaunt. They have been told they are the centre of the universe, but at the same time, it’s presumed that they’re ‘bad’ and ‘dangerous’ simply because they are young… toxic! Perhaps if they weren’t suddenly popped fully formed into the world the second they hit puberty, and rather, got some exposure to the world as kids? Such an odd thought…

I’ve also seen it said that there are upwards of 60 people chasing each job in parts of the country such as Tottenham. I ask you – what constitutes a job in this country? What is the definition? Because frankly, I suspect that a ‘job’ means ‘something in an office’, not ‘something that you are paid to do’. I’ll admit that I’ve not researched this yet, so it’s merely speculation as to whether or not ‘facts’ are being inflated to emphasize how dire the situation is. All I know is that we’re offering a great job with good pay and a chance for lifetime employment in a family firm, and we’ve had all of two candidates in half a year… who’s chasing my job, then? :p

Anyways, what I guess I’m trying to say was said best by another person yesterday. She stood in front of burning wreckage, sunlight filtering down to her shocked and pale face, and she said, “Who is going to invest in us now? Who is going to want to bring jobs to a neighborhood where its residents hate it so much that they tear it up?” It was obvious that she was proud of where she lived, even if it wasn’t the best, but that she still wanted to see the best for it. And while I sigh at the thought that jobs only come on the back of big corporations (’cause they don’t), I agree with her that one shouldn’t (to put it pithily) shit where they eat. Nobody else is gonna clean it up for you… unless you happen to be a baby. Are they babies? Or are they people who want to have pride in themselves and in their lives? I fear I know the answer; that easy button commercial is much too popular. :/

I hope that sort of makes sense all in. I’m definitely not saying that America is perfect with its 9.1% unemployment, but when even people like my currently incarcerated and incredibly unstable/mentally unwell brother can find or create jobs between prison stints? It’s very difficult for me to accept excuses. And there is never an excuse for violence – enjoy your £1,000 electricity bill for your pilfered plasmascreen, though! ;D