United Kingdom – London Riots

August 13, 2011

By Padmini Arhant

The past week was tumultuous for the two most influential western powers – the United States and the United Kingdom.

While the United States experienced stock market volatility following the U.S. credit rate downgrading by S&P 500,

Across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom had to deal with economic adversity driven citizen riots that led to London and other cities burning reportedly claiming at least 3 lives during the week–long unrest witnessed by the world.

Although, approximately 1900 rioters are believed arrested for prosecution and some already sentenced to jail in the aftermath of looting, rioting and inflicting damages to the community,

The politics in Britain is yet to find solution for the problems that triggered such outrage and anarchy in the society with history on imperialistic rule around the globe until the 20th century.

Whenever substantial demography reach rock bottom, the simmering frustration from economic deprivation and social injustice surface as the lightening rod much to the governing authority’s bewilderment.

Citizens on the loose rampaged the streets and neighborhoods in an attempt to convey their political message without consideration for serious ramifications upon them and the people at the receiving end.

Civil disobedience is effective only through non-violent means guaranteed to attract local and international attention on political oppression, economic disparity or social inequality and last but not the least ethical decay.

Violence resulting in innocent deaths and financial losses undermine the underlying facts in inner city and outskirts with economic victims turning into unruly protesters spreading misery all around exacerbating the social plight.

Government austerity plan is predominantly held responsible for the majority suffering since students from low-income groups find difficulty attending university in the wake of state grants and assistance withdrawal.

Additionally, those with college education are facing severe job cuts and unable to get employed unless the individual has society’s influential members’ recommendation for the job they are applying in both private and public sector.

The regular selection method on merit basis evaluating performance and aptitude is no longer prevalent,

Not to mention the marginalized segments pushed below the poverty line and opportunity for them remaining a far-fetched dream in the industrialized and developing nations.

Otherwise the inept, corrupt and greed characteristics overwhelmingly prevail in the respective domain.

If these realities are not conspicuous to the political class and the society’s elite focused on disproportionate personal wealth acquisition,

The governance is merely symbolic in the failure to address basic needs of the people they were elected to serve in public office.

It is a common syndrome in the contemporary political systems engaged in creating rather than resolving crisis.

Dysfunctional apparatus with misplaced priorities is the source for social disorder.

Structural overhaul promoting moral and ethics premised on transparency and accountability would definitively offer relief to the deteriorating economic and political conditions in the society.

Warfare commitments overriding social requirements and nation building is another unpopular political decision contributing to rising debt and deficit status.

Domestic investments to improve the living standards of the people through jobs, education, health care, clean and safe environment would yield productivity under fair practices making citizens proud of their contribution to national progress.

Political leaderships demonstrating courage and integrity in the legislative process for collective gains instead of selective interests would be a refreshing start in the review and reform actions.

The disgruntled and disenfranchised citizens in the United Kingdom are urged to disavow hostile behavior and submit their grievances to the government in a peaceful and democratic manner.

Racial tensions provoking social disturbance is not the answer to economic woes for many share the burden to a certain extent with major responsibility on government and business leaders to work together for economic recovery.

Evidently the have-nots are not the only dissatisfied groups on the status quo, others too have their opinion in the crumbling morality of human nature particularly in the political and elitist circle.

Comment from UK. Daily Telegraph News Reporter on London riots:

“Peter Oborne argues that the moral decay is not just happening in the most deprived parts of our country:

David Cameron, Ed Miliband and the entire British political class came together yesterday to denounce the rioters.  They were of course right to say that the actions of these looters, arsonists and muggers were abhorrent and criminal, and that the police should be given more support.

But there was also something very phony and hypocritical about all the shock and outrage expressed in parliament.   MPs spoke about the week’s dreadful events as if they were nothing to do with them.

I cannot accept that this is the case.

Indeed, I believe that the criminality in our streets cannot be dissociated from the moral disintegration in the highest ranks of modern British society.

The last two decades have seen a terrifying decline in standards among the British governing elite.

It has become acceptable for our politicians to lie and to cheat.

An almost universal culture of selfishness and greed has grown up.”

Good Luck! To U.K. leaderships and residents in coming together as a nation in bridging the gap between the privileged and impoverished alongside improving human qualities through empathy  – the fundamental element for unity in the society.

Peace to all!

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

http://youtu.be/PBgRd12vzv4

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Featured, International Politics 

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