Many people, homes, businesses (small and large) and society-in-general have been damaged (the “damage” is the “effect”), from what are being called “riots” around the UK (the “riots” are the “cause”). (An example article of the riots and the damage is here). I am very sad about the “effect”, and I feel that the “cause” should be condemned and the perpetrators placed justly through our (UK+EU) law system.

I feel that we should separate cause and effect, and my intention in this blog post is to comment on the cause. Therefore please do not confuse what I may say about the cause with what I feel for the effected.

I believe as part of our condemnation we should ridicule what they do, now ridicule is probably the wrong word and maybe I don’t mean it quite as literally as it may sound. These criminals are ‘silly’ for being so violent, for stealing things from shops, from setting things on fire etc etc. At the same time I do feel that we should not “fight fire with fire”, but “fight fire with flower”. Yes, I am saying that the government should use “Flower Power” (I do mean “Flower” and not “Flour”) - it would be fantastic if our government used flower cannons instead of water cannons, it would be a fantastic turn around from the days when hippies used flower power to fight the weapons obsessed government. Imagine that, the government using flower-power to fight weapons-obsessed hooligans. It would be awesome! (also remember this photo)

To sum up, here is how I feel at the moment:

• Let’s actively condemn violence and crime, and put criminals through the law and justice system.
• Let’s work together (collectively, collaboratively and co-operatively) to improve society for all.
• Let’s work together as a community and as individuals for Freedom, Equality and Community.
• Let’s separate cause and effect. When effect is negative we should condemn the cause, and learn from it.
• We should feel for those who suffer.
• We should fight (as peacefully as possible, and with no violence and no criminal activity) those who cause suffering. By this I mean “peaceful retaliation,” in respect to “rioting”.
• The “riots” are being over-politicalised, they have nothing to do with politics. It is simply that some people do not trust the police and/or justice system, and some people take the opportunities to steal.

p.s. be careful what you buy from ebay and other markets, you may be buying stuff that has been stolen during the riots! (particularly electronics and sportswear)

As already said, I hope that you don’t misunderstand what I am trying to say, and I certainly don’t mean to offend those who have suffered from these “riots”.

Many thanks,
Daniel

Disclaimer: I am a pacifist, therefore when I say that we should “fight”, that does not mean that we should do so using violence, war, terrorism, or using any other criminal activity. I am also a great believer in universal Human Rights, so I feel that “fighting” and “justice” should always take into consideration our rights in society. I do not speak for any particular political party, nor do I speak for any group that I may be involved with, but I do speak from my own thoughts and feelings at the present time (and so these may change in the future). I am also not a trained politician, nor am I a trained journalist, nor a trained public servant. I am simply an observer, that reads and watches the news, and has an opinion.