If there is a "political message" behind the riots in the UK it is being lost.

[TheBigotBasher]

It started as a vigil for Mark Duggan, a man shot, perhaps in cold blood by the Police. It was a peaceful prayer led vigil. Anger behind the secrecy justifiably turned to protest, that escalated to a riot in Tottenham, a borough of intense contrast between the haves of the nearby City and the have nots.

What has followed has been nothing more than copy-cat looting. It is indeed mindless violence. Few out smashing and burning will have heard of Mark Duggan. At best they are not fighting a "class war", at worse they are doing everything to undermine any gains made the poor in the UK.

It is not sticking it to the man to burn poor people out of their own home.
It is not sticking it to the man to kill businesses in unemployment blackspots of London.
It is not sticking it to the man for riotous thugs to storm Birmingham for gay bashing.

It most certainly does not help the family of Mark Duggan. It does not help deal with police racism or police intolerance and in fact it drives people right back to full unquestioning support of the police. It does not help the children being drawn into this who now face being charged with aggravated burglary.

Who does it help? The far right who will exploit this in every way they can.

[Lint Head]

1. The military calls it collateral damage. When people riot it's just called unnecessary violence.

[Modern_Matthew]

11. This should have a wall of "+1000"s... so allow me to be the first... +1000! nt

[readmoreoften]

2. Of course. And how, praytell, do think handwringing on DU is going to stop it?

This is clearly not a revolution. And no one representing any revolutionary organization is saying it is.

[TheBigotBasher]

4. Except on DU of course

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1698683

[guruoo]

On DU. And the BBC...

A compelling argument, IMO, presented by an eyewitness to both the cause and effect.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biJgILxGK0o

[TheBigotBasher]

19. I saw that interview and was disgusted.

Accusing Darcus Howe of being a rioter is absolutely disgraceful. She should be sacked.

[guruoo]

20. Missed that, but was disgusted by her talking over him, changing subject, etc...

Now going viral...

Views on YouTube as of 8-9-11 11:41 AM - 315
Views on YouTube as of 8-9-11 5:56 PM - 20,398
5,383 likes, 587 dislikes

[elleng]

3. Similar to DC in '68.

http://www.carolmoore.net/sfm/dc-riots1968.html

[guruoo]

8. Or LA in '92

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SoCalDem]

6. Outrage often turns into just plain old rage at some point

and it usually attracts the "rowdies" who take advantage of any chance to raise hell..

Media will focus on the rowdy ragers because it's difficult to address the issues of the people who started the protests, whose intentions were serious.

[DJ13]

7. Its not lost, its deliberately not being told

The media (in any first world country) has no interest in telling the story of desperation and poverty that leads to these kinds of incidents.

Not only is it easier to label them all as thugs, but the truth would be uncomfortable for those corporations that advertise with them.

[moksha]

12. I think you are right. If the truth was told, it would also require us to

look at our US cities and recognize parallels. The message is pretty clear, people are very angry and have been for some time. This is pent up rage being released, consequences be damned. How it has spread to surrounding neighborhoods tells us the problems that gave rise to these attitudes may be systemic.

If Britain fails to hear and understand the message being sent, it could very well get worse. How the police react will determine if this stops now, to restart another tie down the road, or escalate and become something more, now.

[TheBigotBasher]

13. How does burning poor people out of their homes help?

How does gay bashing help?

How does killing jobs in areas of high unemployment help?

What coverage will be given to the death of Mark Duggan?

[moksha]

16. I doubt that it will help. That isn't the point.

The point is that it is a violent act that is cathartic. The government should be asking why it happened, how so many across the country are so jaded and angry that they engage in this behavior. The looting and arson are the means and the ends.

It is not so much that individuals are making a political statement and seeking positive change, but that the government better damn well hear the message that is being sent. The people are fed up and have lost respect for the societal expectations. At least for now, a significant segment of society have no respect for the rule of law. That is a helluva message that is being sent.

Sadly, the reaction of the British government will likely exacerbate the problem in the future rather than learn and make the needed changes.

[Speck Tater]

18. It's not being told because nobody wants to hear it.

Who cares about something that happened way back then when right now, right this instant, looter and rioters are getting closer to your own home? People want to hear news that's relevant to them right here and now. They really couldn't give a rats ass about how it all started. So why is the media not reporting it? Because if one station did report it all the viewers would go somewhere else for their news. Nobody cares anymore how it started.

[CJCRANE]

9. It's a smack in the face against austerity and small government.

The more the Conservatives cut the social safety nets the more disorder they'll get.

And ironically they'll need bigger and bigger government to contain the disorder.

[guruoo]

10. It could go either way at this point, IMO. nt

[fascisthunter]

14. well, it doesn't help when the media only gives people one perspective on the matter

...and this isn't just about Mark Duggan.

[robdogbucky]

15. Reuters reporters do not agree with your assessment:

Tue Aug 9, 2011 3:53pm EDT

* Widening gap between rich and poor exacerbates tension

* Inequality felt most keenly in London, say charities

By Mohammed Abbas and Kate Holton

LONDON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Just yards from the east London street where riots erupted on Monday stands a house for sale that sums up the depth of division in the area.

With five bedrooms, three bathrooms and its own coach house, the elegant property has been put up for sale with an asking price of 1.7 million pounds ($2.75 million). The main attraction, according to the advert, is the sought-after location.

Many residents of the diverse borough of Hackney said it was this ever widening and very visible gap between the rich and poor that has exacerbated tension in recent years, especially as government cuts to welfare payments have started to bite.

Britain, one of the world's major economies, has a bigger gap between rich and poor than more than three-quarters of other Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, according to a 2008 report. Charities in Britain say that inequality is most keenly felt in London...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/09/britain-riot-contrast-idUSL6E7J91RM20110809



One unemployed resident of Hackney was quoted thus: "They call it looting and criminality. It's not that. There's a real hatred against the system," he added, listing what he saw as the police prejudice, discrimination and lack of opportunity that led him and his friends to loot shops, torch bins and hurl missiles at police on Monday





Nice try though

[FLAprogressive]

17. "They call it looting and criminality. It's not that. There's a real hatred against the system,"

bull fucking shit.

He just wants an excuse to loot.

Come on.

[TheBigotBasher]

21. This lady should be knighted

she says exactly what Cameron can not and could never say, if you are are going to fight for a cause fight for a fucking cause. Don't use the death of a man to go thieving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYKKt2vCqLQ&feature=related