London's Burning!

So, as I sit here right now, foggy London town is being burned to the ground by rampaging gangs of masked youths. Or, more accurately, a bunch of chavvy little twerps are setting cars on fire and stealing cigarettes and snickers bars. It started in Tottenham and quickly spread to other shit-holes around town...Peckham, Brixton, Hackney, Croydon etc. (Coincidence? Mmmm.)

Now, me personally, I'm not adverse to a bit of a riot every now and then. Show the people in charge that the rules can be changed if need be, you know? However, as always, what starts as a genuine angry protest (in this case, the wrongful shooting of a man by the police) often gets corrupted by the criminal element and all relevant cause is immediately discredited in a haze of mindless chavvery. Now, if a family member of mine was wrongfully shot by the police, I would happily take to the streets (or least give it some serious thought). However, most people are just out looking to run around and cause some damage. This is where it goes wrong.

The problem with the nature of rioting is the way it invariably gets dealt with by the police. They have only one option...extreme force. They have no time to decipher who is friend and who is foe, therefore they have to just batter everyone who gets in the way. Of course some of these people are innocents who deserve this not one bit. Thus an innocent man trying to get home gets shoved to the ground and the dogs set on him, what's he going to do? Pick up a bottle and start throwing. Therein the situation becomes further inflamed and it goes on and on. So expect this to continue for at least another couple of days.

One thing I've never understood is the looting aspect of it. What is the benefit of breaking into your local newsagents and pilfering all the copies of Mens World? Exactly what statement are you trying to make? "I will speak out against police brutality by masturbating furiously for days on end! That'll show 'em!" That's merely being a moron. Also, by smashing up and setting fire to your own neighbourhoods, you're just doing exactly what the government wants you to do. Everyone already thinks you're all poor, uneducated, amoral thugs and all this sort of thing does is confirm that stereotype. And, as a result, when this all blows over, no-ones going to be in a hurry to clean it all up. No-one at all.

I do feel sorry for the regular folk of these areas though. Especially those getting their businesses ransacked by these rag-faced chancers. To them my heart goes out. The rest of you are just tw*ts. If only you took all this 'rage' and used it in a constructive manner, who knows what could be achieved.

Until then, enjoy your free TV's where you can watch 'The Only Way Is Essex' and Baa along like good little sheep. Mugs.

Peace and love

John.