Showing posts with label riots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label riots. Show all posts
Friday, 12 August 2011
An article posted on the BBC website today detailed 10 different views on the cause of the recent riots in the uk. The third point cites lack of fathers and hence (apparently) a male role model as an issue.
I think the issue of a lack of a male role model is fine, but its the lack of it within society that is a problem and that is not going to get solved by just sticking any kind of man into a family unit! Sexual equality is a good thing, It's good for both men and women in that our choices are no longer restricted by gender. However, where we used to have a clear idea about what it mean to be a man or a woman in terms of self respect and behaviour,we now have a gap. And while this wont make me any friends in the radical feminist camp, I think this has hit the male population a lot harder than we would like to believe. We are all able to be aggressive and domineering, the problem is that our society often portrays these as strong and positive male traits, with men who are thoughtful, kind and empathetic are portrayed as weak and feminine, at the same time a lot of the traditional male roles have dissappeared. I am not advocating that we slot neatly back in to our sexual stereotypes here but that we re-examine what qualities we value as a society in both genders.
We also need to dispel the myth that most single parents are young teens looking to get a council house. This is a convenient political tactic used to target single parent families who claim benefits, yet in reality most occur as a result of a breakdown in a relationship.Not all single parent families are headed by women, the vast majority are, but there are some great single fathers out there and no one sits there saying they are doing a bad job because their kids lack a female role model.
As someone who found myself alone bringing up 3 kids I can honestly say that the male role models that were available at the time were not positive ones. The issues ranged from mental and sexual abuse, through to being a philandering idiot who couldn't keep his trousers zipped up. The men that were available were not exactly "positive role models". It was not how I wanted my kids, especially my son, to perceive the role of the male within society or within a relationship.
My choice was to live alone. I hoped I would one day meet a "quality man" - someone who would show an aspect of the male psyche that did not hinge on being a testoterone overloaded idiot who threw their weight around, felt it was OK to treat women badly, or whine when they had to do things that needed doing just because it wasn't fun. In the meantime, there were plenty of men around to provide a decent role model, they just werent my sexual partner or living in my house!!
You can argue that having 2 loving parents is better than one, and it is, if both parents love and respect each other and their children. And respect for your children includes preparing them to live within a community through discipline and establishing boundaries!! I do not support the implication that any father is better than no father since a negative role model is worse not better than no role model at all. Plenty of well balanced human beings are turned out by single mothers (and fathers) who, in the main, see to it that they fulfill as many of their childrens needs as humanly possible.
I think the issue of a lack of a male role model is fine, but its the lack of it within society that is a problem and that is not going to get solved by just sticking any kind of man into a family unit! Sexual equality is a good thing, It's good for both men and women in that our choices are no longer restricted by gender. However, where we used to have a clear idea about what it mean to be a man or a woman in terms of self respect and behaviour,we now have a gap. And while this wont make me any friends in the radical feminist camp, I think this has hit the male population a lot harder than we would like to believe. We are all able to be aggressive and domineering, the problem is that our society often portrays these as strong and positive male traits, with men who are thoughtful, kind and empathetic are portrayed as weak and feminine, at the same time a lot of the traditional male roles have dissappeared. I am not advocating that we slot neatly back in to our sexual stereotypes here but that we re-examine what qualities we value as a society in both genders.
As someone who found myself alone bringing up 3 kids I can honestly say that the male role models that were available at the time were not positive ones. The issues ranged from mental and sexual abuse, through to being a philandering idiot who couldn't keep his trousers zipped up. The men that were available were not exactly "positive role models". It was not how I wanted my kids, especially my son, to perceive the role of the male within society or within a relationship.
My choice was to live alone. I hoped I would one day meet a "quality man" - someone who would show an aspect of the male psyche that did not hinge on being a testoterone overloaded idiot who threw their weight around, felt it was OK to treat women badly, or whine when they had to do things that needed doing just because it wasn't fun. In the meantime, there were plenty of men around to provide a decent role model, they just werent my sexual partner or living in my house!!
You can argue that having 2 loving parents is better than one, and it is, if both parents love and respect each other and their children. And respect for your children includes preparing them to live within a community through discipline and establishing boundaries!! I do not support the implication that any father is better than no father since a negative role model is worse not better than no role model at all. Plenty of well balanced human beings are turned out by single mothers (and fathers) who, in the main, see to it that they fulfill as many of their childrens needs as humanly possible.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Back in the good old 1980s I was extremely active in the Anti Poll Tax campaign and I attended a large number of peaceful protests including the large demonstrations is Glasgow and London, which unfortunately ended in the Trafalgar Square riots. The riot on Trafalgar Square kicked off basically because people were trapped within a small area (possibly kettled before it got called kettling!) people got scared, a small minority kicked off and before you knew it you had mounted police rampaging all over the place. Until that moment the march had been good natured.
This was a legitimate political protest, which eventually god rid of both the Poll Tax and Thatcher. During the same period I was practically thrown down a flight of stairs by a police officer whilst trying to escape a skirmish between a group of "anarchist revolutionaries" and the police who had been called to empty the viewing gallery of the council chamber. Myself and rather a lot of other people who had no interest in violent confrontation were prevented from leaving and were caught up in the middle. Being hurled at speed towards a flight of stone steps is likely to upset anyone's equilibrium. Possibly he was trying to get me out of the way rather than kill me however, it was a bloody scary situation.
In the light of my own experiences I think that we should all consider that bringing in the army, water cannon, baton rounds or CS gas is the option of last resort. Even the police (who have had access to baton rounds throughout) are not willing to cross that particular line.Whilst understanding why people want these things to bring a speedy conclusion to the disturbances it will set a dangerous precedent and effect the handling of legitimate peaceful protests that sometimes get out of hand. During the student loans protest it occured because the police used the same sort of ridiculous crowd management techniques they used at Trafalgar Square.
CS gas was last used in mainland Britain in Toxteth in 1981 during the riots there. Fortunately it has never been used since, but because we have already crossed that particular line I am expecting that if things do degenerate it will be the next port of call.
I am not talking about being soft on the rioters, I certainly dont consider that looting local businesses, burning people's homes and causing widespread distruction for no apparent reason a legitimate "cause".
However, it is true to say that the rioters are a product of our society and we have to look at that, from state level government policies, the policing tactics that are used, right down to the parenting skills of people who let children as young as 10 years old literally run riot on the streets at midnight. The individuals doing this have made their bed and now they will hopefully face the consequences, but if we dont look to change the deep rooted lack of caring and respect for other people that seems to becoming characteristic of the UK today, we are in for more of the same.
Written in response to Ross Hemsworth's Blog
This was a legitimate political protest, which eventually god rid of both the Poll Tax and Thatcher. During the same period I was practically thrown down a flight of stairs by a police officer whilst trying to escape a skirmish between a group of "anarchist revolutionaries" and the police who had been called to empty the viewing gallery of the council chamber. Myself and rather a lot of other people who had no interest in violent confrontation were prevented from leaving and were caught up in the middle. Being hurled at speed towards a flight of stone steps is likely to upset anyone's equilibrium. Possibly he was trying to get me out of the way rather than kill me however, it was a bloody scary situation.
In the light of my own experiences I think that we should all consider that bringing in the army, water cannon, baton rounds or CS gas is the option of last resort. Even the police (who have had access to baton rounds throughout) are not willing to cross that particular line.Whilst understanding why people want these things to bring a speedy conclusion to the disturbances it will set a dangerous precedent and effect the handling of legitimate peaceful protests that sometimes get out of hand. During the student loans protest it occured because the police used the same sort of ridiculous crowd management techniques they used at Trafalgar Square.
CS gas was last used in mainland Britain in Toxteth in 1981 during the riots there. Fortunately it has never been used since, but because we have already crossed that particular line I am expecting that if things do degenerate it will be the next port of call.
I am not talking about being soft on the rioters, I certainly dont consider that looting local businesses, burning people's homes and causing widespread distruction for no apparent reason a legitimate "cause".
However, it is true to say that the rioters are a product of our society and we have to look at that, from state level government policies, the policing tactics that are used, right down to the parenting skills of people who let children as young as 10 years old literally run riot on the streets at midnight. The individuals doing this have made their bed and now they will hopefully face the consequences, but if we dont look to change the deep rooted lack of caring and respect for other people that seems to becoming characteristic of the UK today, we are in for more of the same.
Written in response to Ross Hemsworth's Blog
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
I have recently been quite aggressively accused of being a middle/upper class "sheeple" for not supporting the riots - although this was by people who quote the same old lines/quote/dogma at every given situation without THINKING about how this situation may well be different from another (and they talk about mind control?) - I thought I would write a little on the subject of the recent riots.
Now I am not saying that being middle or upper class makes you an inherently bad person. But none of the people who levelled these criticisms actually know me or my background. Being the daughter of an immigrate who came here with £30 in his pocket, I was born in a council house and have had to work my arse off to get everything I have (which isn't really that grand!) I really don't think I can be called middle or upper class. I have lived in some of the areas affected and I suffered from the sort of poverty my accusers can't even comprehend. I take umbrage at those shouting critisim from their little middle class ivory towers, all a safe distance from the rioting of course, especially when they have actually chosen to live outside the UK, just because I empathise with other working class people who have lost everything in the riots. Surely this is human compassion? This does not mean I am full of hate for the rioters, I just don't approve of what they are doing.
I agree with police accountablility. Someone was shot, it should be investigated. Anwers are needed for the family, for society and for the police themselves. The riot has happened on the back of this, it is not because they care about the dead man, or police accountability or whatever. If it had happened after a massive whitewash, then maybe you could argue this sparked it but the investigation isnt over yet.
These riots are not politically based. The only agenda here is not police accountability, an end to poverty. bringng down the government, or fighting student loans it is about getting what they want in terms of material possession. I don't think that living in poverty and feeling dissaffected is a good enough reason. In reality how many of them have ever gone hungry? Or naked? Very few. Well I have (not the naked bit!) and I didn't go and smash up the local restaurant because I couldnt afford to eat in it and neither did all the other people that lived in E3 where I was living and who were suffering the same lack on money.
This isnt the Youth of London rising up to overthrow capitalism. Even Ken Livingstone said it was a tiny minority and that most of London's youth would have been at home or down the pub. The youth of London were baying for blood when the police caught a looter. The same youth who were supporting the student protests. Maybe they have suddenly turned into the middle class? Or have suffered some from of mind control? Or, more likely, they are pissed off with people wrecking their enviornment.
Condemning the current riots does not mean you are being one of the "sheeple", or suffering "media mind control" It is looking at each individual situation and deciding for yourself. However spouting the same old lines in response to different situations and chanting dogmatically the "party line" is not thinking for yourself, or being really switched on. And sorry, as much as you want it to happen, it will not be not giving you "working class" credentials. Many people's opinions change according to circumstance - many supported the students during their protests, these same people (myself included) are not supportive of these. I may be a "sheeple" and be too stupid to know it, but then equally so are you, you just run with a different flock!
I agree with police accountablility. Someone was shot, it should be investigated. Anwers are needed for the family, for society and for the police themselves. The riot has happened on the back of this, it is not because they care about the dead man, or police accountability or whatever. If it had happened after a massive whitewash, then maybe you could argue this sparked it but the investigation isnt over yet.
These riots are not politically based. The only agenda here is not police accountability, an end to poverty. bringng down the government, or fighting student loans it is about getting what they want in terms of material possession. I don't think that living in poverty and feeling dissaffected is a good enough reason. In reality how many of them have ever gone hungry? Or naked? Very few. Well I have (not the naked bit!) and I didn't go and smash up the local restaurant because I couldnt afford to eat in it and neither did all the other people that lived in E3 where I was living and who were suffering the same lack on money.
This isnt the Youth of London rising up to overthrow capitalism. Even Ken Livingstone said it was a tiny minority and that most of London's youth would have been at home or down the pub. The youth of London were baying for blood when the police caught a looter. The same youth who were supporting the student protests. Maybe they have suddenly turned into the middle class? Or have suffered some from of mind control? Or, more likely, they are pissed off with people wrecking their enviornment.
Condemning the current riots does not mean you are being one of the "sheeple", or suffering "media mind control" It is looking at each individual situation and deciding for yourself. However spouting the same old lines in response to different situations and chanting dogmatically the "party line" is not thinking for yourself, or being really switched on. And sorry, as much as you want it to happen, it will not be not giving you "working class" credentials. Many people's opinions change according to circumstance - many supported the students during their protests, these same people (myself included) are not supportive of these. I may be a "sheeple" and be too stupid to know it, but then equally so are you, you just run with a different flock!
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About Me
- Mara Cortesi
- Live and work in Somerset. Just about to embark on a back to nursing practice course.