There is a simmering anger amongst the people that I have spoken to in the pub about what has happened in their country over the past week. All are disgusted by what has happened and how they are now portrayed in the eyes of the world. The papers here are filled with stories about the people who were involved, on both sides and what has surprised many is the range and diversity of people who got involved in the looting.
From young degreed intelligent people who should know better but couldn't help themselves in the face of temptation (and who now face a trying to get on in life with a criminal record) to toe rag council estate scum who know no better and claim their 'rights', the courts and cells have been filled to overflowing.
Every columnist and editor is spewing words to describe this brief chapter. So has anything changed? The PM pledges tough action against them, parliament is recalled for an emergency debate...serious stuff, the outcome? Police can now remove the hoodie and masks of the rioters so to identify them easily. Before they couldn't. Um, that's about it. No resolution on whether the rioters should be / could be shot (which is a pity), no resolution on whether the water cannon can be deployed, no resolution on whether their state benefits should be axed. No resolution on longer jail terms. No.
In a few weeks time this will all be forgotten as the next new threat to society shows itself. Sad I think but probably the reality. The police though, yes the same plod who only a few days ago were heavily criticised, have been remarkably efficient in knocking on doors and arresting the rioters. They have promised that they will, with the help of millions of CCTV cameras catch every one of them and make them pay. Good on them!
The view that I am getting from average Joe has surprised me, there has been no mention against immigrants in this country of whatever colour and there is general agreement that this government, and the previous one too, does not have the balls to force change through. Like most governments they will stick to preying on the easy targets, the reasonable people that will listen to them, will pay their tax, will be responsible and respectable.
What the government has underestimated, in my view, is that should this happen again communities will form very powerful groups much quicker than they did this time round and they will enforce the laws of the street. Average Joe will himself be caught up in the mob mentality because he is not keen to see this happen again in his street.
As I sit here with one leg raised in the spirit of Nelson - if you follow cricket you'll know what I'm talking about - I wonder to myself about what the future will hold for us. There is no doubt in my mind that moving here was the right decision, the holiday goggles glow is starting to diminish as we immerse ourselves in the daily stuff - I was going to write grind buts its not yet - but so far we have only had good experiences. I think that it is a positive place to live in (where we are anyway), I think our offspring are settling in remarkably well and the youngest is already well known by the customers of the pub, especially those customers with dogs, the eldest has worked out for herself that some of the other kids are different to her so she avoids them...people are or seem to be very friendly here and I think its all to do with them not having the need for literal and psychological self protection all the time. I don't know if that makes sense but its difficult to explain.
Until tomorrow.
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