London Riots

In London a family grieves for a man whose death is now being used as an excuse for gratuitous violence and crime. The family do not see this as bestowing honour on him.

The public do not know of the events leading up to the fatal shooting which was the catalyst for the riots.

What gives people the right to use a man's death as a reason to riot? Especially those so far removed from Tottenham?

What if he was an innocent man the victim of police misdemeanour?

What if he is not the martyr he is being made out to be?

Either way, does it give an excuse to turn opinion and feeling into vitriolic, violent venting?

Should the actions of one policeman be a reason to hate all police?

The whole situation throws up so many questions...

Watched Sky News until 1am last night... can't help but think "why shit on your own front doorstep?"

Well, what if your doorstep was already covered in shit? Would it make much difference?

Are these young people so disillusioned that they feel this is appropriate and just action?

What does it say of our society? Is it so degraded that young people can act with such lack of conscience, assuming that this is normal, guilt-free entertainment?

What can we do to make a difference? Anything?

Are we just a society motivated by greed? Where people don't feel they have to earn their way and progress upwards through life, they want it all on a plate and they want it now. Could celebrity culture be partly to blame? Have we always been a country based on loose morals?

What makes the looters any different from the bankers?

Where does it end? When order is restored or when they get what they want? Do they know what they want? If there is a cause could they all name it?

Have the rioters been let down? By the government? By their parents? Or do they just let themselves down? An unwillingness to make a change for themselves, to make the most of their own lives for their own sake?

...so many questions.

"I've loved London all my life, but this is spoiling it for me. It's like discovering the boy you love is a bully and a cheat #londonriots" ~ Madeleine Bride, 16yr old Londoner on Twitter

"With all of the #tags & trending topics about rioting & looting the one thing that seems to have been missed is the importance of Parenting" ~ Reggie Yates

"From bankers to looters, fostering a culture of greed and entitlement never ends well." ~ Twitter

"We'll stay open, if they steal some books they might learn something" ~ Waterstone's employee, BBC news